Depression is a disorder, not a decision.
Often people who have never suffered from a mental illness forget this truth, instead treating depression as a choice that can be cured with a little positive thinking.
鈥淏e positive,鈥� they say, oblivious to the fact that those words merely place blame on the person who鈥檚 suffering.
That鈥檚 the stigma that surrounds mental illness. In our society, it is viewed as a personal weakness, rather than an illness. So, instead of being supported, people are told to 鈥渟uck it up.鈥�
It鈥檚 a stigma that鈥檚 created by misunderstanding, not ill intent.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), 20 per cent of Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, with eight per cent of adults experiencing major depression at some point in their lives.
For the other 80 per cent of Canadians, mental illness can be hard to understand. If you鈥檝e never experienced the chronic physical and psychological pain of a mental illness, it can be hard to comprehend what it鈥檚 like to suffer day in and day out鈥攐ften in silence.
But, even if we don鈥檛 understand, we can still empathize and take the time to educate ourselves, in turn breaking the stigma and making it easier for people to seek out the help they need without feeling ashamed.
Beginning April 24, Jasper鈥檚 new Mental Health Awareness Committee launched its first annual mental health awareness campaign, offering up two weeks of events and learning opportunities and in return asking the community to Stand Up For Healthy Minds.
The hope is with greater awareness will come greater support, so those who are struggling will feel comfortable speaking about their illnesses and seeking out supports.
To do your part to end the stigma, attend an event, do some research, educate yourself about the supports and services that exist in the community, watch your language, and talk to people who are struggling, offering them support, just as you鈥檇 do for a friend with a physical injury.
We all have a role in creating a healthy community for all of Jasper鈥檚 residents. Do your part to make Jasper a community that supports recovery and social inclusion, not just for this two-week campaign but all year around.
If we all bond together, we can reduce discrimination and end the stigma, creating a caring, educated community.
