In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians personally experience a mental health problem or illness.
And, by age 40, about 50 per cent of the population will have or have had a mental illness.
There are many reasons why people develop mental illness and regardless of the reasons, these are health problems just like cancer, arthritis or diabetes. So, why does society look at people with mental illness, including substance use disorders, differently?
The answer is Stigma.Â
Stigma seriously affects the well-being of those who experience it and can profoundly change how people feel about themselves and the way others see them.
The impacts of stigma can be so significant for some individuals, preventing 40 per cent of people with anxiety or depression from seeking medical help.
Let’s change the narrative around mental illness. We all have a role in reducing stigma.
Take a positive step toward addressing stigma with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s online tutorial, Mental Health 101: Understanding Stigma -www.camhx.ca/Education/online_courses/MentalhHealth101Series/Stigma/story
Other things you can do to reduce stigma include:
• increased education on mental illness and substance, use disorders – know the facts
• be aware of your attitudes and behaviours,
• choose your words carefully – language is power,
• educate others – pass on facts and positive attitudes; challenge myths and stereotypes,
• focus on the positive – people are not their mental illness,
• support people – treat everyone with dignity and respect; offer support and encouragement,
• include everyone.
The What Matters to Hatters Coalition is focused on reducing stigma related to substance use and mental illness in our community through our third annual kindness campaign. The kindness campaign also highlights community individuals and organizations as kindness champions for their kindness and connection consistently demonstrated in community.
This month, we celebrate Kindness Champions, Sandra and Ron Rude who moved to Medicine Hat in 2014 from their ranch in Youngstown.
They immediately began volunteering for The Connection Intercultural Association. Having enjoyed hosting an exchange student from Japan in the past, The Connection seemed like a good fit for Sandra and Ron.
Over the past 11 years they have mentored 13 international students attending Medicine Hat College. They help the students get used to our local customs, adjust to a new environment/climate, practise their English, and manage their studies.
They also share food, stories, a cup of tea, laughter and the connection of family and home (and of course Tigers hockey games and Swirls ice cream.) Sandra and Ron have also been hosting The Connection’s Progressive Suppers for many years and are looking forward to the next one on March 21 at 6 pm.
Sandra shared that she and Ron have hosted students and adults from all over the world during these meals including Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Nigeria, Belarus, the Bahamas, China, El Salvador, and South Korea.
When asked what motivates them to continue to volunteer as mentors to these international students, Sandra said “we have a passion for international students and The Connection, we get back tenfold”.
The Kindness Matters column is put together by members of the What Matters to Hatters Coalition and will run monthly throughout the organization’s annual Kindness Campaign
