Battling the Mental Health Curve: A Preventative Approach

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Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the 3rd leading cause of disease burden worldwide was depression and that depression was predicted to become the leading cause by 2030.

  • In Canada, the chances of having a mental illness or a substance use disorder in your lifetime is 1 in 3 (Pearson, Janz & Ali, 2015).
  • The percentage of people who die by suicide who had a diagnosable mental illness is 90% (Kirby & Keon, 2004).
  • The chances of experiencing or having a mental illness by the time you reach the age of 40 is 1 in 2 (Center for Addiction & Mental Health, 2019).
  • Canadians 15 years of age or older in the past 12 month period who reported symptoms consistent with either a major depressive episode, bipolar disorder, a generalized anxiety disorder, or alcohol/drug abuse was 2.8 million (Canadian Community Health Survey, 2012).
  • The rate of completed suicides amongst First Nations ages 15-24 is 5 to 7 times higher than the Canadian average for the same age group (Kahn, 2008).
  • First Nations people experience depression 2 times more than the national average (Khan, 2008).

Now, these are some bleak statistics. What is the point of sharing them? Awareness. Also, to bring introspection to another curve we will be facing as Canadians that we need to collectively flatten: the mental health curve.

The battle against the additional mental health consequences and current, exasperated mental health conditions due to COVID-19 is just beginning. Thankfully, we have qualified individuals and researchers who are working to combat that rise. However, you don’t need to be a doctor or have a PhD to do preventative care and upkeep of mental health. If done correctly, both result in an increase in overall mental health and well-being and less of a drain on the medical system in terms of healthcare, treatments, reactionary work, and so much more. You get the idea.

It is really easy for our own mental health rhythms to become uncoordinated when an upheaval in our lives occur. Even more so when a drastic upheaval, like COVID-19, occurs. Be gentle with yourself and with others in your life if your mental health has taken a turn. Experts are coming to a resounding consensus that we return to and stick to the basics to help make change. Take a look at the following preventative tips that can help:

 

Stuck at home? Out of ideas for activities? Try these!

And lastly, if you or someone you know needs additional supports outside the home, there is help. Please take a look at the following resources that are social distancing friendly and provide quality, expert help to both adults and children.

 

 

 

Resources:

Canadian Community Health Survey. (2012). Retrieved from:

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/130918/dq130918a-eng.htm

 

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2019). Mental illness and addictions: Facts and

statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.camh.ca/en/driving-change/the-crisis-is-real/mental-health-statistics

 

Khan, S. (2008). Aboriginal health: The statistical reality. Retrieved from:

http://www.heretohelp .bc.ca /visions/aboriginal-people-vol5/aboriginal-mental-health-the-statistical-reality

 

Kirby, M. & Keon, W. (2004). Mental health, mental illness and addiction: Overview of

policies and programs in Canada. Retrieved from: https://mdsc.ca/docs/MDSC_ Quick_Facts_4th_Edition_EN.pdf

 

Pearson, C., Janz, T. & Ali, J. (2015). Mental and substance use disorders in Canada.

Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/ pub/82-624-x/2013001/article/11855-eng.htm

 

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2018). World drug report. Retrived from:

https://www.unodc.org/wdr2018/prelaunch/WDR18_ Booklet_2_GLOBAL.pdf

 

Coding and Robotics Professional Development

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March 17, 2020
10:00AM- 3:00PM

PLEASE SEND 3 INTERESTED TEACHERS/EA’S FROM KINDERGARTEN – GRADE 6

Sub costs, travel and lunch will be provided

This full day session will provide hands on training using the Ozobot and the Robot Mouse. Through hands on learning, teachers will learn how to use coding and robotics to enhance their teaching practice.

Curriculum linked activities are available for all of the robots at https://www.saskcode.ca/activities/.

An emphasis is placed on student problem solving, resilience building and team work using coding and robotics. The robots we will use for this PD include Robot Mouse and Ozobot and will be geared to grade K to 4 teachers. Teachers of all grade levels are welcome.

Please send registration by March 9th to cyuzicappi@educationalliance.ca.

Treaty Education Alliance Embarks on Ottawa for Meeting with Indigenous Senators

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Fort Qu’Appelle, SK — A delegation of First Nations leaders from across Saskatchewan, along with Youth Nation Builders from schools in the Treaty Education Alliance, are set to appear in Ottawa on February 25th, 2020 to share their vision for a new First Nations education system for the member First Nations of the Treaty Education Alliance.

The youth were invited to make a presentation to the Indigenous Senators’ of Canada. Together, they will share on the importance of a school system rooted in Inherent and Treaty Rights, focusing on key aspects such as language, culture, traditional knowledge, health, family, and identity.

The Treaty Education Alliance views this national event as an opportunity to raise awareness of, and build support for, their goal to negotiate an agreement with Canada to build a new education system. This new system will provide opportunities to nurture and develop children and youth as Nations Builders of their respective First Nations.

Each of the students attending the event will have an opportunity to present their unique assets, stories, and personalities, along with visions for the future of their Nations.

Sheena Koops, Nation Builder Advocate within the Treaty Education Alliance, has worked closely with the youth travelling to Ottawa over the past two years, and sees incredible growth in those who have embraced the program.

“We see students finding their voice, specifically around who they are and where they come from,” said Koops. “This trip to Ottawa gives our youth a chance to stand up and share what is important to them.”

Chief Brian Standingready, Special Advisor to the TEA Board of Directors, sees great importance in the ongoing negotiations with the federal government, including this delegation to Ottawa.

“What the TEA is proposing is a plan to develop their own education authority, based on a rich history that isn’t taught in the provincial curriculum,” said Standingready. “Our students are special. They have unique needs. They have specific requirements when it comes to mental health, nutrition, and specific challenges in their families.”

The Treaty Education Alliance currently works with five First Nation member schools, with staff bringing expertise in the areas of the early years, literacy and numeracy, Nation Builder engagement, Learning the Land, community engagement, Indigenous pedagogy, special needs programming, digital literacy, and online learning.

As part of negotiations, Treaty Education Alliance is seeking to create and implement a comprehensive system that will require a significant resource investment and commitment by Canada. Treaty Education Alliance leadership is firm in their belief that this commitment is long overdue, and necessary in this era of reconciliation; the benefits have potential to be far-reaching and significant to Canada through improved learning and life success outcomes for First Nations children and youth.

For more information on the Treaty Education Alliance, please visit https://stpeterkronau.ca.

For interview requests, please contact Chief Nathan Pasap at (306) 575-8208, or Lori Whiteman (306) 550-5770.

TEA Showcase & Trade Fair

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Friday, December 06, 2019 at the Painted Hand Casino in Yorkton.

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School Kickoff 2019

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