Mental Health Information for January 31, 2018

• In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental health or addiction problem¹
• By the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, 1 in 2 have – or have had – a mental illness.¹ 
• Only half (49%) of those who have suffered from depression or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor about the problem.²
• Only 57% of adult Canadians report a high capacity to cope with unexpected and difficult problems and day to day demands.³
• Canadians ages 40-59 had the highest rates of death by suicide ⁴

Mental health deserves the same care and dedication in maintaining health as does physical health. Mental illness can be managed and treated effectively. While a number of services and programs are available to faculty and staff, stigma remains a significant barrier in accessing services and recognizing warning signs in not only others but also ourselves. Awareness is paramount in ensuring people access supports and services and get necessary treatment.

All staff and faculty at the have access to mental health services through the University’s Employee and Family Assistance Program. The program can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 780.428.7587. Additional information can be found online. The University also offers a number of training sessions for staff and faculty to assist in reducing the stigma often associated with mental health but to also help identify signs of a possible concern. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) are offered several times throughout the calendar year. Additional information on those workshops as well as those offered for staff and faculty by the Dean of Students office can be found online.


Sources

¹Smetanin et al. (2011). The life and economic impact of major mental illnesses in Canada: 2011-2041. Prepared for the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Toronto: RiskAnalytica.

²Mental Health Commission of Canada (2013). Making the case for investing in mental health in Canada.

³Public Health Agency of Canada (2017), Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 1-7, 2017) and World Mental Health Day (October 10, 2017) https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2017/10/mental_illness_awarenessweekoctober172017worldmentalhealthdayoct.html

⁴Statistics Canada, Health at a Glance – Suicide Rates: An overview http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-624-x/2012001/article/11696-eng.htm