Mental Health Week 2016

It's Mental Health Week , and let's start off by taking a look around and noticing every person in your life who has been affected by Mental Illness.  I'm guess that's going to be each and every person you know, that has been touched by Mental Health in one way or another.  Let's be inclusive, let's advocate, let's support and let's learn.  Let us change the way Mental Health is seen in Canada.

Today Justin Trudeau released a statement for Mental Health week, and it can be read in its entirety HERE  

 “We all have a responsibility to raise our awareness about mental health. We must actively encourage honest and open conversations – in our homes, our workplaces, and our communities – about what mental health is and what we can do to increase our collective well-being. We must listen to our loved-ones, our colleagues, our friends, look out for signs and offer them support and advice in times of need. It can be a challenge for all of us to cope with the fast pace of life, daily stresses, and obligations. We all need to stand strong together."
-Justin Trudeau 

Blame

Brene Brown on Blame is a must-see video, as known from Sympathy vs. Empathy. "Brene Brown considers why we blame others, how it sabotages our relationships, and why we desperately need to move beyond this toxic behaviour." Enjoy!

Blame

This is a great little short that is part of a larger conversation about Blame.  I found it very enlightening to see how finding something or someone to blame when something happens really affects how we cope with ourselves, our relationships, our community and our ability to empathize and listen.
Brené Brown is the speaker in the video, and you can find many other talks that she's done on YouTube, most notably this amazing commentary on Empathy .

How one person explains their own depression.

I'm constantly trying to understand what mental illness looks like through the eyes of the person who is experiencing it.  I know that i will never really understand how another person is feeling, but listening and empathizing really helps with my own perspective and coping skills.  I often ask myself "how can i help this person or family if I have no concept of what they're going through?".  I have to remind myself that it's okay that i can't see through their eyes, but i can sure try to step into their shoes for a different view on..well...everything.

 I'm a huge fan of a blog of comics written by a woman who has experienced Depression.   There are two comics in particular about her struggle with depression that have gotten a lot of attention.  They're important to me because it's very personal, real and heartbreaking; while all the while adding in some humor which really  makes these feelings easier to relate to for people who have never experienced Depression.

Please visit  Hyperbole and a half: adventures in depression for the first part, and get even more perspective from Hyperbole and a half: Depression part 2.

NOTE: the above links contain some swearing.