Mental Illness Awareness Week 2022 is October 2 – 8

Each October, the Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia Division (CMHA NS) joins organizations around the world in highlighting the need for education around illness during Mental Illness Awareness week, a national initiative hosted by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH), that encourages Canadians to learn about mental illness and share their experiences with it.

• 1 in 3 Canadians say they’re struggling with their mental health.
• 1 in 3 Canadians say that depression and anxiety are a major problem within their social circle.
• 32 per cent of Canadian aged 18 – 34 say they need mental health care but can’t access it.
• 3 in 10 Canadians say they or someone in their household had an appointment with a therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist in 2021.
• 1 in 3 Canadians will be affected by mental illness in their lifetime.
• Canadians’ perception of their overall mental health has decreased from 64% since 2020 to to 58% in early 2022.
• 17 per cent of Canadians feel they need professional mental health care but can’t access it.
• 40 per cent of Canadian aged 18 – 34 say they feel like they’re at a breaking point mentally.

(Sources: Angus Reid Institute 2022, Maru public Opinion 2022, Statistics Canada 2022)

• 1 in 3 Canadians say they’re struggling with their mental health. Yet there are still many hurtful attitudes around mental illnesses that fuel stigma and discrimination and make it harder to reach out for help. If we want to reduce stigma we need to learn the facts and start with our own assumptions and behaviours. Download this helpful poster with myths and facts.
• Do you know the difference between mental health and mental illness? It’s an important distinction. Download this poster and learn more.
• What do you think of when you hear that someone is experiencing a mental illness? Some feel concern, fear, or confusion or even avoid that person.  But mental illnesses are just like any other illness and should be treated as such. Learn more and share this image with your network.
• Have you heard of the social determinants of health? In the simplest terms, the social determinants of health are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. Learn more and share this image with your network.

About CMHA NS:

The Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia Division supports the resilience, recovery and well-being of people living with a mental illness and those experiencing mental health challenges across the province.

​We are a federated charity, which means we are a collective of organizations bound together by a brand and mission. At the national level, we push for nationwide system change.  At the provincial level we advocate for policy change, deliver programs that support education, connection, employment and housing.

Our programs are free to access and available to anyone living in Nova Scotia. At the community level our branches support the resilience and well-being of Nova Scotians through social programs, education and advocacy based on the needs of the community. Together, we identify and respond to Canada’s most pressing mental health priorities. 

Nova Scotians can rely on CMHA-NS for:

• Advocacy: Working with our partners, we push for new systems, policies, and practices that increase community capacity and foster better mental health and well-being for all Nova Scotians and address the social determinants of health.
• Education: We promote greater understanding of mental health issues through inclusive, evidence-based mental health programming and education across the province. We are committed to ensuring this programming is accessible and meets the evolving mental health needs of Nova Scotians.
• Resource Navigation: We connect all people in Nova Scotia with safe, inclusive, culturally relevant, accessible mental health programs, services, and support. We are committed to expanding our network and building strong connections with our community partners across the province to ensure we meet these needs.

Learn more

CMHA NS relies on contributions from supporters across the province to help us perform our critical work advocating, educating and spreading awareness. Want to support our work? Check out our Get Involved page.