Photo courtesy of Liz Marques
Is there still a stigma around mental health?
The pandemic has really affected how we look at mental health in a number of ways. A lot of people were stuck at home and immediately realized that they weren’t doing okay. There was an increase in calls to 211 Ontario, and more adults were attending therapy sessions when compared to pre-pandemic levels.
READ: Pandemic is impacting mental health, says CMHA
Liz Marques is a local Psychotherapist. She says that, while the pandemic has definitely improved how we discuss mental health, more can be done.
She adds that a lot of her newer clients that she’s been seeing may have recognized their issues during the pandemic, but these issues stem from well before the mass isolation ever began. There was an increase in awareness that was caused by a call to action for the stigma around mental health to be lifted. This allowed people to look inward and ask if they’re doing okay.
With physical health, doctors ask their patients to self-examine themselves at home. You can check for lumps and you can check for abnormal moles, but it’s a lot harder to check for mental health issues. Marques says self-diagnosing is an ongoing issue in her field, and she asks for people to always speak with a medical professional should they ever experience any issues.
If you’re experiencing any type of issues, reach out to your doctor. If it’s an emergency and there isn’t anyone available, you can reach out to a crisis line. Learn more here.
It’s one thing to acknowledge that you’re experiencing something, but it’s another thing to notice that someone you know is having issues. Marques says that you should always try to be there for your friend.
Marques is a Psychotherapist with Milton Psychotherapy Centre at 450 Bronte Street South in Milton. You can learn more about her and her work here.
This story was possible because it was proposed to us. If you have a news tip or story idea, you can send us a heads up via email at News1013@LocalRadio.ca. If you’d like to get ahold of me personally, shoot me a message at Cameron.Wilkinson@LocalRadio.ca. We’re in the business of content creation, so no idea is a bad idea.
READ MORE
