We might be a bit biased here, but we obviously feel that talking about mental health is incredibly important. There has been a definite improvement around people’s understanding of mental health and normalizing the mental health struggles that individual experiences. Bell’s mental campaign has gained significant traction over the years and has garnered a huge following. This year will mark 8 years since Bell started the “Lets Talk” campaign, and in that time the stigma around mental health has decreased, however it still remains a taboo topic for many.

With the arrival of snow and cold weather in the Toronto area a lot of people begin to stay inside. They may see their friends less often and choose to stay inside and veg out watching T.V. instead of heading to the gym. If this behaviour becomes a pattern it has the potential to have a negative effect on our mental health. Isolation combined with a lack of physical activity can lead to an increase in depressive and anxious symptoms, especially for those who are susceptible to mental health disorders.

There has yet to come a day where I have experienced no stress. That is a fairy tale day. Stress is an unavoidable part of life and generally it can be more stressful to attempt to avoid feeling stress.

Last month the provincial government announced in a news release that they have committed to investing $3.8 billion over the next 10 years towards mental health and addictions services in Ontario. The hope is that this new funding will help to cut-down on wait times for mental health treatment so that individuals who identify as having mental health issues are able to have access to the services they need.

With the holiday season upon us, there is an emphasis on positive feelings of joys and happiness. Images of laughing faces, and pleasant get-togethers are posted on every street corner, and in every other television advertisement. Co-workers talk excitedly about the plans they have for the upcoming weeks, “This is the best time of the year”. And there you are, sullen, morose, and with barely enough energy to carry you through the day. Begrudgingly waking up every morning, trying to find new ways to convince yourself that you can make it through the day.

I wake up every morning feeling like I have a 1001 things to strike off my to do list, and no matter what I do by the time I wake up the next morning those 1001 things come right back up. It’s a constant rat race, with myself! Sometimes it feels like I have 10 drill sergeants in my head barking out orders, demands, and reminders. I’m exhausted by the end of the day but this was the only way I knew how to live. Well that was until I was introduced to mindfulness.

Anxiety can be an incredibly debilitating, and for some it can be create major mental roadblocks. Anxiety manifests in different ways and each person’s experience of anxiety is unique to them. When you suffer from anxious thoughts and feelings, it can often feel like you are the only one suffering. Anxiety is an internal experience and while there are physical symptoms, usually most people can’t tell when someone is feeling anxious. This is because the person feeling anxious may seem completely okay on the outside. Anyone can suffer from anxiety, from young children to seniors and everyone in between. I think it’s a safe assumption to make that everyone on this planet has had moments of anxiety. Anxiety is a healthy, and normal emotion. A healthy amount of anxiety is what

keeps us from wandering alone on dark streets in the middle of the night or persuades us to study for that big exam. Anxiety can become a problem when it starts to take over other emotions and our reactions do not match the size of the problem, leaving us feeling dysregulated and overwhelmed.

You’ve heard that term before “mental health”, but have you ever stopped to think about what it really means. Many people associate the term with severe mood disorders and psychiatric conditions but that could not be further from the truth. We often overlook the importance of mental health, failing to recognize the impact it has on our overall satisfaction with life and on our physical health. Most people recognize when their mental health is not at its best. You know how when your relationships are not satisfying or when you’re having challenges at work and at home. Despite knowing that something is not right, many people are not sure what to do and tend to ignore these pestering feelings, hoping that they go away.

With marijuana being legalized and being available for public consumption and sale, there are many questions that people have about this monumental change. Understandably, many people are concerned and are worried about substance abuse rates rising. Recreational marijuana is now going to become a part of the societal and cultural norm and it is important to understand the risk and benefits of such a drug being made legal for public consumption.

Let’s start with the obvious, life is stressful. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the ongoing responsibilities and seemingly never ending “to do” lists, that seem to just get longer and longer with every passing day. Most people will do their very best to hide their stress, “just grin and bear it”. Stamping down your emotions.  But what happens when you can no longer bear it? What happens when everything just seems so overwhelming and you feel stuck, and that sense of hopelessness starts to set in? No one wants to admit to feeling overwhelmed. Despite all the awareness and education directed towards mental health, it continues to be a low priority for most people, taking a back seat to obligations that are perceived to be more pressing or “important”.