Get loud about mental health!

Residents are encouraged to get loud about how to nourish mental health during this year’s Mental Health Week, May 6 to 12, 2019. Mental Health Week is a national initiative led by the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Mental health is important for everyone. Mental health affects how people feel, think, act and interact with the world around them. Everyone wants to feel safe, seen, understood and connected. Sometimes life is complicated and depending on what is happening in peoples’ lives, their mental health changes. Everyone has the ability to create a positive impact on others, ourselves and our community.

The stigma surrounding mental health can be reduced through compassion and acceptance. Positive relationships and connections are key to building resiliency, as it equips people with the ability to cope and recover from mental health challenges.

Stigma around mental health challenges may prevent individuals from reaching out for support. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, two thirds of people facing mental health challenges do not access help. Asking for help is a sign of strength.

Just as health professionals recommend regular physical check-ups, it is just as important to regularly assess mental health. For those who want to check in on their mental health, Strathcona County Family and Community Services offers walk-in counselling services, starting at $0. Visit strathcona.ca/counselling or call 780-464-4044 for more information.

For more information on how to nourish mental health, visit strathcona.ca/mentalhealth. Residents are encouraged to share their mental health nourishment ideas online using #GetLoud.

Set in the centre of Alberta’s energy and agricultural heartland, Strathcona County is a thriving, successful and vibrant community of over 98,000 residents. Strathcona County is made up of the urban area of Sherwood Park and a large adjacent rural area of farms, acreages and smaller hamlets. It is home to 75 per cent of hydrocarbon processing in Western Canada. Strathcona County is a leader in environmental conservation, and 55 per cent of its land is within the UNESCO Beaver Hills Biosphere. With a focus on economic, governance, social, cultural and environmental sustainability, Strathcona County is committed to balancing the unique needs of its diverse community.

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Contact: Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595