Download October 5-11 is Mental Illness Awareness Week. A common theme

October 5-11 is Mental Illness Awareness
Week. A common theme within mental
health is ‘flourishing’, which is just a fancy
way of saying doing well or thriving with a
mental illness. Resiliency, good coping
skills and support from family and
Ways friends, family and neighbours
can support someone with a mental
friends, like you, are factors that
illness:
influence a person’s ability to
• Listen to the person without
judging or being critical
flourish with a mental illness. For
• Keep the person’s life as stress
free as possible to reduce the
many people living with mental
chance of relapse
• Encourage the person to get
illness, it can often take a little more
professional help when
appropriate
work to achieve positive mental
• Check on them periodically to
make sure they are not
health because of the nature of
relapsing or considering self
harm
each individual’s unique
• Provide the same support as
for someone who is physically
circumstances and needs. We all
ill (visit, send flowers or a card,
run errands)
know someone with a mental illness
• Have an understanding of
mental illness
and it is a big part of recovery to be
• Educate others about mental
illness to reduce stigma
supported and accepted by your
Mental Health First Aid Canada
friends and family. You can make a
big difference so reach out and
make those connections.
Mental Health….
“…a state of well-being in which the
individual realizes his or her own
abilities, can cope with the normal
stresses of life, can work productively
and fruitfully, and is able to make a
contribution to his or her community.”
World Health Organization
Tracy Zimmer
Alberta Health Services
Mental Health Promotions
780-675-5404