Mental Health is a realm of our overall health that we all should pay close attention to. Mental Health is a state of wellbeing for one’s mind. It includes, one’s emotional, social and psychological well-being. Mental Health can also be affected by stress, environmental pressure, lack of social circle, unhealthy eating and living habits such as lack of sleep or eating more fast and or junk food.
Mental illness(es) is or are health conditions that involve changes in emotion, thinking or even behaviour, or a combination of all these aspects. They are associated with distress and or problems in functioning in social, work and or family activities. Statistically speaking, 1 in 24 individuals (4.1%) have a serious mental illness while 1 in 12 individuals (8.5%) have a diagnosable substance use disorder.
Mental illness is a leading cause of disability in Canada. In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental illness or addiction problem, according to the CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health). Moreover, by the time Canadians reach the age of 40, 1 in 2 have or have had a mental illness. Mental Health or Mental Illness is not just common in adults and seniors, but also in children but mostly in adolescents. About 70% of mental health problems occur in onset during the childhood or adolescence period. It is also stated by the CAMH that Canadians within the lowest income group are more likely to have poor mental health compared to those with the highest income groups.
It is important to acknowledge that mental health is a critical portion of the human lived experience. We must strive to be kind and communicative to everyone because many people are suffering and struggling with mental illness silently and through exercising respectful communication and checking up on our loved ones, we can help them feel more supported and empowered when addressing their mental health. Moreover, even though Mental illness is common, it is very much treatable.
So what is Bell Let’s Talk Day? It is an awareness campaign that is created by the Canadian telecommunications company Bell Canada. Their purpose is to raise awareness and combat stigma surrounding and against mental illness in Canada.
Well then what is Bell Let’s Talk Day? On this day, Canadians and people around the world will join to help create a positive change for people living with mental illnesses and develop a constructive conversation around mental health issues. Many active social media individuals will be using the hashtag #BellLetsTalk as a way of participating in the campaign on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and viewing the videos posted. Bell Canada to donate 5 cents for every applicable call, text, tweet or TikTok video or snapchat lens used.
What can you do? As people who are part of this big movement and technological generation, you can share, post and watch videos with the hashtag #BelLetsTalk and be a supportive individual to people suffering silently. You can also help by checking up on your loved ones, hearing them out, being kind to everyone you love and strangers and sharing this message!
Written By Mughisa Nooreen
