1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. The remaining 4 will have a friend, family member or colleague who will. Mental illness affects thinking, mood or behaviour and can be associated with distress and/or impairment of functioning, with symptoms that vary from mild to severe. However, despite how common it is, there is still a large amount of stigma (prejudice)
surrounding these individuals:
•Only 50% of Canadians would tell friends or coworkers that they have a family member with a mental illness, compared to 72% who would discuss diagnoses of cancer or 68% diabetes in the family
•Only 12% of Canadians said they would hire a lawyer who has a mental illness
•Only 49% said they would socialize with a friend who had a serious mental illness
•46% of Canadians think people use the term mental illness as an excuse for bad behaviour
•27% are fearful of being around people who suffer from serious mental illness
(Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)
This page aims to provide education and awareness surrounding mental health. Our goal is to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, and to get others talking about it.
