Every week should be Mental Health Week. This year’s theme, #GetReal, asks us to get in touch with our emotions. In the COVID-19 pandemic we are all under increased stress and anxiety. Naming emotions is step 1, but the government must act with the emergency 988 help line. You are not alone.
Wellness Together Canada
Wellness Together Canada (WTC) launched to help address the unprecedented rise in feelings of stress, anxiety and depression in Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its first year, more than 1.1 million people across all provinces and territories have accessed the WTC portal in over 3.6 million web sessions.
More than a year later, with variants and various states of public health measures still in place throughout the country, the pandemic continues to have a profound effect on all of us, particularly those who do not have ready access to their regular support networks.
Support is just a call or click away and it is important that members of your network have access to WTC live support and credible information, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Through WTC, individuals of all ages in Canada or Canadians abroad can access supports ranging from self-assessment and peer support, to free and confidential sessions with social workers, psychologists and other professionals.
WTC offers services in both official languages and phone counselling is available in more than 200 languages and dialects, through instantaneous interpretation.
In order to continue to improve mental health services, Budget 2021 proposes to provide $62 million for the WTC portal so that it can continue to provide everyone in Canada with the tools and services to support their mental health and well-being.
Other Resources
Beyond Wellness Together Canada, there are a multitude of resources and supports available for mental health, suicide prevention and substance use. We all have a role to play in helping prevent stigma and making sure our friends and neighbours don’t have to suffer in silence.
General mental health and well-being for Canadians
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- Hope For Wellness (Indigenous peoples)
- Mental Health Commission of Canada
- Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund
Urgent care and distress
Seniors
- Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ mental health COVID-19 resources
- Canadian Frailty Network: Tips to avoid social isolation
Youth
Suicide and self harm
- Language Matters: Safe Communication for Suicide Prevention
- Association québécoise de prévention du suicide (French only)
- Canada Suicide Prevention Service