Mental Health Awareness
As part of Mental Health Awareness week, our students have been researching information to add to the bulletin board in the main entrance of our school. Here are some of the facts they've uncovered:
- Mental health and mental illness are often used interchangeably but they are not the same thing.
- Common signs of mental health issues include extreme mood swings changing in eating habits, excessive worrying or fear, problems in concentrating, and avoiding friends and social activities.
- Limiting social media usage can really help with your mental health.
- Everyone will experience challenges regarding their mental well-being but not everyone will experience a mental illness.
- Canadians with the lowest incomes are 3x more likely to suffer a mental illness.- More than 1 in 4 adults living with serious mental illnesses also struggle with substance abuse.
- Taking deep breaths are a good way to calm down.
- Depression symptoms can impact performance in school and interfere with personal relationships.- Mood and anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issues in Canada.
- Canada's youth suicide rate is the third highest in the industrialized world.
- Members of the LGBTQ+ community are almost 3 times more likely to experience a mental health condition such as major deptression or generalized anxiety disorder.
- Half of all mental illnesses show early signs before a person turns 14 years old and 3/4 of mental illnesses begin before age 24.
Thank you, students, for these reminders about how important it is to take care of our mental health and seek help when needed.