Mental Health Awareness

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Mental Health Awareness We sat down with Olympic cyclist and speed skater Clara Hughes to learn about her journey to becoming a mental health advocate.

You’ve been very open about your battle with depression. How did you seek help, and when did you know to seek help?

LA

RA

HUGHES

It was a slow process that began with sports psychologists — available to me as an Olympic athlete — but they weren't the right fit for me as a person.

It was like having a work coach help with personal issues, but they needed me to be successful in work first and foremost. I’m grateful for the support that many of these integrated support team members (sports psychologists) provided, but eventually I had to go off on my own to find different people to complement this.

C

I worked with medicine doctors, healers, and psychologists. I practised mindfulness and meditation (which is still a big project that has challenged me greatly over the years). I’ve become really curious and read so many books on trauma and adverse childhood experiences. I’ve taken courses online to understand these elements deeper (including Dr. Gabor Maté’s Compassionate Inquiry), and have learned all these years after trying to be the fastest person on earth on skates and on the bike that movement can be a beautiful form of medicine when you allow yourself to slow down. I took three years off work from 2017 to 2020 to walk thousands of miles on the long trails in North America to move in nature, walk in silence, and connect with space, place, and self. It was a powerful experience that allowed for so much healing.

We chatted with Canadian comedian and TV personality Howie Mandel about his mental health journey, reducing stigma, and the power of sharing.

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5 Things You Need to Know About Postpartum Depression

The rate of perinatal mental illness has risen from one in five pre-pandemic to

1 in 3 1 in 2

for perinatal depression and

Perinatal mental illness impacts thousands of Canadians each year, and understanding the impact — and how to tackle it — is essential.

I

for perinatal anxiety.

That means that currently,

Here are five things to know about perinatal mental illness: It’s more than postpartum depression

This article was sponsored by CPMHC.

40% 20%

of women and

sn’t it amazing how far we’ve come in Canada talking about mental health? At the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative (CPMHC), we’re also taking action by advocating for improved perinatal mental health services.

But wait, what is perinatal mental health?

Aren’t we talking about postpartum depression? Yes, we are, and more … You see, for all the great discussion about mental health, there’s still so much misinformation and stigma. The most crucial time in a person’s life when it comes to ensuring their future mental health is the perinatal period surrounding conception to postpartum — that is to say, before you’re even born.

We believe that in order to stop the cycle of mental illness, we need to start where it matters most — before birth.

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EL

BY THE NUMBERS

Patricia Tomasi and Jaime Charlebois

Jaime Charlebois Co-Executive Director, CPMHC

ND

A

Patricia Tomasi Co-Executive Director, CPMHC

Those reading this right now need to continue talking about it and continue to be open vessels verbally and with their ears, for themselves and everybody around them. I think the first step is just talking.

Not everybody has an answer, but as long as there’s dialogue, things will be better.

H OW

Read the full interviews at healthinsight.ca.

People can learn to simply be aware of their mental health. There’s little awareness of mental health and that’s what the public needs to learn. People are often unaware of their mental health because we tend to focus on physical health, so if something hurts then you go and get it fixed or something is done about it.

But if people don’t feel mental pain then they don’t take care of it, and most people can’t articulate or understand what mental pain is. I think mental health is just as important as anything you can feel physically.

What steps can individuals take to break the stigmas surrounding mental illness?

PHOTO CREDIT: WENDI SAN GEORGE

What can the public learn about mental health awareness from your story?

of developing a perinatal mental illness if you’re struggling financially, have a history of mental health disorders, live in a rural community, are part of the LGBTQ2+ community, are living with a disability, or are Black, Indigenous, or a person of colour.

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Though the term postpartum depression is probably what you’re most familiar with, it’s actually one of several perinatal mental health disorders that can befall a person in pregnancy and postpartum, and is the most common complication of childbirth. There’s also prenatal and postpartum anxiety (the most common), post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, and, in rare cases (about one or two in 1,000), psychosis.

It’s not just about moms Did you know that birthing people, partners, adoptive parents, and fathers can also develop a perinatal mental illness? It’s not just moms or moms-to-be who are susceptible. Having a baby is stressful for the whole family and studies have shown hormonal fluctuations in dads, too.

Babies can be affected Untreated perinatal mental illness can have a lasting impact on infants and is considered the first adverse childhood experience affecting the physical and mental health of the child and family for generations. Adversity in childhood is known to have impacts on behaviour and educational achievement throughout the lifespan.

That’s what we mean when we say that the best way to stop the cycle of mental illness is to catch it before it begins — which means making sure that moms, dads, partners, and birthing people are properly screened, diagnosed, and treated before and after a baby is born.

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It doesn’t discriminate

Whether you’re well off or struggling to make ends meet, whether you’re big, small, medium, or tall, and whether you live in Halifax or Kugluktuk, perinatal mental illness can happen to anyone. Having said that, you’re more at risk

We’re fighting for you The CPMHC is calling on the government to improve perinatal mental health services, and we’re thrilled to report that it has promised to do so. We look forward to the day when Canada has universal perinatal mental health screening and timely access to services in all areas of the country. Until then, keep talking and keep sharing your stories. The mental health of our future generations depends on it.

of men in Canada are suffering from a perinatal mental illness, and the rates are higher for marginalized people.

Suicide is the

4th

leading cause of maternal death in Canada.

95%

of health care providers say that current perinatal mental health services in Canada are insufficient.

87%

of health care practitioners say that people from diverse backgrounds encounter language, cultural, and cost barriers to perinatal mental health services.

57%

of health care practitioners don’t have specialized training in perinatal mental health care in Canada.

Untreated perinatal mental illness costs the Canadian economy

$150,000

per mother-baby dyad. With screening and treatment, this cost could be reduced to

$5,000 cpmhc.ca

Publisher: Ashley Cheung Director of Business Development: Julia Colavecchia Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Content & Production Manager: Raymond Fan Designer: Kylie Armishaw Content & Web Editor: Karthik Talwar All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The Toronto Star or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.

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Exploring the Impacts of Cannabis Use during Pregnancy and While Breastfeeding Despite its reputation as being harmless, the negative effects of cannabis can be passed on to your baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

IS IT OK TO USE CANNABIS DURING PREGNANCY AND WHILE BREASTFEEDING? It’s best to avoid using all forms of cannabis during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Here’s why:

Tania Amardeil

C Justine Renard Research & Policy Analyst, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

Shea Wood Knowledge Broker, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

Learn about the health effects: ccsa.ca/ cannabis.

This article was sponsored by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.

annabis use in Canada is quite common. It’s been legal to use recreationally since 2018 and it’s sometimes viewed as a riskfree substance.

“There has been an increasing belief that cannabis is harmless and can relieve some of the symptoms of pregnancy — like morning sickness, nausea, anxiety, and sleep disorders,” says Justine Renard, Research and Policy Analyst at the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), a non-governmental organization aiming to provide national leadership on substance use. “And with this new wave of consuming organic and natural products, some pregnant women think that because cannabis is natural, it won’t harm the fetus.”

However, evidence points otherwise.

More research, clinical studies, awareness, and education are needed about the effects that cannabis use can have on pregnancy, breastfeeding and infant development.

ciation between prenatal cannabis use and congenital abnormalities and autism, but those relationships still need to be confirmed with further research.”

While the research isn’t conclusive and the conclusions may be compounded by other maternal risk factors, Renard notes that cannabinoids — especially THC, the primary psychoactive component of cannabis — are lipophilic, meaning they can be stored in fat tissue, and that they’re capable of passing not only through the placenta but also breast milk. As such, current research suggests that no amount of cannabis use is safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Cannabis can affect your baby’s growth and brain development.

There’s not enough evidence to support using cannabis for treating negative symptoms of pregnancy.

Advocating for Canadians’ safety

Research compiled by the CCSA’s research team highlights the physical and mental effects that cannabis can have on babies when in utero or being breastfed.

The CCSA’s goal is to continue research in this space and to advocate for Canadians’ safety. “The CCSA is Canada’s only agency with a legislated national mandate to reduce the harms of alcohol and other drugs on Canadians, and was created by an Act of Parliament to provide national leadership to address substance use in Canada,” says Shea Wood, Knowledge Broker at the CCSA. “Staying evidence-based and making sure to get the most up-to-date evidence out to the public to help people make informed choices about their health is very important to us.”

“We found that frequent cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight and a cluster of other risk factors related to adverse birth outcomes such as pre-term labour,” says Renard. “We also found that there are long-term effects on kids’ behaviours, including attention deficit, emotional disturbance, increased hyperactivity and impulsivity, sleep disorders, and increased risk of developing a substance use disorder later in life. There’s also some evidence of increased psychotic symptoms, anxiety, and depression. Some research shows an asso-

As an independent, neutral, non-partisan, and trusted third-party expert, the CCSA collaborates with Canadian scientists and service providers to help advance its work.

It also works with governments across the political spectrum to advance initiatives that reduce harm, improve wellness, and increase community safety across Canada.

If you’re pregnant or planning on conceiving, talk to your health care provider to learn about the effects of cannabis use during pregnancy and breastfeeding and to explore options for harm reduction.

Refuting cannabis’ “miracle cure” reputation

The effects of cannabis can be passed on to your baby.

Talk to your health care provider if you have questions about cannabis use.

Eating Disorders in Canada Need a Catalyst for Change — and It’s NIED NIED’s vision is that Canadians impacted by eating disorders receive the care they need.

Francine Greenspoon

I Francine Greenspoon Director, National Initiative for Eating Disorders

If you'd like further information about NIED, visit nied.ca.

f you haven’t heard of the National Initiative for Eating Disorders (NIED), it’s time you did — particularly as it celebrates its 10-year milestone as a catalyst for change for those impacted by eating disorders in Canada.

Eating disorders remain one of the most stigmatized and misunderstood of all mental illnesses with the highest death rate, excluding opioid addiction. Of the 2.7 million Canadians estimated to have an eating disorder, five to ten percent of those with anorexia will die within 10 years and 18 to 20 percent will die within 20 years, with one in five of those deaths being by suicide.

Known for its proactive approach, NIED connects, educates, raises awareness, and takes action to address the needs of Canadians impacted by eating disorders. NIED, in collaboration with the Eating Disorders Association of Canada/Association des Troubles Alimentaires du Canada (EDAC-ATAC), the Eating Disorders Foundation of Canada (EDFC), and the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC), has been instrumental in developing and implementing a national strategy based on six key pillars — prevention, public education and awareness, treatment, caregiver support, training, and research. The strategy presented

to elected officials in Ottawa contains 50 recommendations aimed at improving outcomes for people living with and recovering from eating disorders and related mental illnesses.

Collaboration is a hallmark of NIED’s work. NIED’s current initiative, the Economic Burden Study, a first of its kind in Canada, will bring together 30 partners including researchers, scientists, physicians, health care professionals, people with lived experience, and policy-makers. The goal is to provide a clear, empirically-driven synopsis of the total economic burden (including a psychosocial cost breakdown) that eating disorders impose on the Canadian economy. Key anticipated outcomes from the study will be recommendations for post-pandemic care to generate policy development, the allocation of funding for both community- and hospital-based services, and recommendations for actions required to better support the recovery of those challenged by eating disorders.

To support recovery and manage day-today challenges of people impacted by eating disorders, NIED has taken great care to produce educational and informational resources geared to improve communication between members of a care team, collaboration between care team members, and transitions between

levels of care and between care settings.

Every June 2, in conjunction with 160 countries and activists across the globe, NIED continues to play a vital role in World Eating Disorders Action Day, in an effort to expand global awareness of eating disorders as genetically-linked, treatable illnesses that can affect anyone. NIED also plays an important ongoing role annually during the first week of February in Eating Disorders Awareness Week, drawing attention to the causes, prevalence, and impact of eating disorders.

Many of the significant changes within the Canadian eating disorder landscape over the past 10 years wouldn’t have been possible if not for NIED’s President Wendy Preskow, Co-Founder and Vice President Lynne Koss, and it’s committed team of volunteers including Executive Director Michelle D’Amico and recently installed Chair Lorne Bernstein, who have tirelessly advocated to get eating disorders on all mental health agendas provincially and federally. They have helped raise awareness within Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Statistics Canada, and the Mental Health Commission of Canada, all as a means of making its vision — of all Canadians impacted by an eating disorder receiving the care they need — a reality.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPSA

Substance Use Stigma Causes Harm — and We Need to Address It Stigmas toward people living with substance use disorders are one of the major barriers preventing people from accessing the care they need.

Anthony Esposti

W

Scan the QR code or visit capsa.ca to learn more about stigma and person-first language.

This article was sponsored by CAPSA.

hen it comes to people living with a substance use disorder, stigma has a profound impact on health. The labels we use — alcoholic, addict, user, or abuser — and the images of people on the street, marginalized, and facing poverty, serve only to set people living with a serious and chronic medical condition apart.

There’s “them” and then there’s “us.”

This is stigma.

The fact is, the vast majority of people living in Canada who use substances are us. We have a home, we have a job, and we live among family, friends, and our community. Statistics show that 78 percent of people in Canada over the age of 15 use some form of psychoactive substance and women in their late 30s and 40s, are among the fastest-growing demographic in Canada experiencing fatty liver disease, which is sometimes associated with high levels of alcohol consumption. You can probably picture someone you know right now.

Stigma is best understood as a deeply-held set of false beliefs about a group of people with at least one attribute in common. These beliefs allow for judgment, oppression, and discrimination through overt actions or silent complicity.

Stigma not only prevents people from receiving care for their substance use, it also prevents them from even seeking care in the first place. It stems from the belief that people who use substances are choosing to have a disorder. The science shows us, however, that the causes are a much more complex mix of adverse childhood experiences, trauma, genetics, and brain chemistry, among other factors.

The language we use has a direct impact on quality of care. The image beside illustrates the results of a study

by John Kelly of Harvard University.

Participants in the study were divided into two groups and asked to read aloud a narrative about substance use.

Both narratives were identical, except in one, the term “substance abuser” was used, and in the other, “substance use disorder.”

As shown in the graph on the right, the difference in responses attributing blame, believing that punishment is deserved, or believing that treatment should be offered is significant. More striking, even when using a medically-appropriate term — “substance use disorder” — 23 percent of respondents still believed that people with a medical condition should be punished, 42 percent saw them as a social threat, and 31 percent thought that they’re undeserving of treatment.

Perhaps most alarmingly, the

subjects of the study were members of medical professions — a clear indication of how embedded stigma is in our health systems. The research shows that people with substance use disorders are the most stigmatized population in the health field. Reframing our language is not just a “nice to have” or an exercise in political correctness — it’s a life-saving necessity.

What can we do? Education is key, and better yet, education provided by organizations like CAPSA, which employs subject matter experts with lived and living experience. Direct contact with those who experience stigma is shown to be the best practice for reducing stigmas and twice as effective as education alone. Allies need to see, hear, and feel the impacts of stigma, challenge their biases, and correct misunderstandings at the source, in teachable moments and in a non-threatening environment.

Although there’s plenty of evidence that links a reduction in stigma to a gross reduction in health costs (physical and financial), challenging stigma isn’t an intellectual exercise.

It must be felt and experienced to be understood.

Education, combined with using medically-appropriate terms (instead of pejorative labels) and person-first language, is the first step toward dismantling stigma and improving health outcomes. I’m Anthony, a person with a substance use disorder. I’m not a disordered person in general, nor would I want to be defined by my condition first or solely. Would you?

The cost of substance use in Canada is staggering. In 2017, $46 billion was spent on health care, lost productivity, and criminal justice. Nearly 63

percent of these costs were

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME I currently live well with both mental health concerns and a substance use disorder. My path to lead CAPSA was blocked by the internalized and societal stigma I faced surrounding my diagnosis. It kept me from publicly discussing issues around my substance use health, not only when I was most in need of health care but even after I got well. While images and stories we see often depict substance use disorder as a desperate issue of poverty, housing insecurity, and social separation, I lived comfortably indoors, had meaningful work, and was surrounded by family and friends — similar to 85 percent of those like me. Yet, due to stigma, I couldn’t ask for help and I couldn’t let people know that I got well. I’ll let you decide what desperation looks like.

related to the consumption of alcohol and tobacco. With the impact of COVID-19 on substance consumption, these costs are anticipated to rise.

But the personal costs are even higher. For every person living with a substance use disorder, five family members, friends, and co-workers are affected by someone they care about.

The issue impacts millions of people living in Canada. It’s time to end the suffering and respect all those whose health needs care.

Results are confidential and only shared to healthcare providers with your consent.

Anthony Esposti Chief Executive Officer, CAPSA

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Nutram Partners with CAMH in Support of Mental Health Nutram, a Canadian pet nutrition company, donates $1 for every bag of pet food sold to help raise awareness for mental health.

Heather McKay

N

utram Pet Products, a Canadian Pet Nutrition company, has launched its partnership with CAMH Foundation in support of The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to bring awareness to mental health this May. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Nutram is proud to partner with CAMH Foundation to help create awareness surrounding the benefits of pet ownership in relation to mental health. Nutram is building on the success of the Feed4 program. Feed4, which launched in 2021, was created to help pet retailers support local charities within their community.

CAMH is the global leader in mental health providing care to over 30,000 patients each year, leading ground-breaking research while also functioning as a renowned teaching hospital with international health care alliances. CAMH is dedicated to patient, family and community well-being. They improve access to integrated care, answer the most difficult questions about mental illness, and remove barriers to belonging.

During May, Nutram is boosting its charitable donation by offering $1 from every bag sold to CAMH. Feeding your cat or dog Nutram can help

Benefits of owning a pet that can positively impact an individual's mental health include:

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Make a difference

Pets give us unconditional love

Pets don't judge us or have any expectations of us. They always want to spend time with us and are happy to see us.

Interacting with pets lowers our stress

Interacting and/or playing with a pet helps relax and calm us. Pets make us smile and laugh, which boosts our moods.

Pets make us feel needed and give us a sense of purpose The act of caring for a pet provides responsibilities and motivation. A pet establishes routines for us, as they 're required to be fed daily and depending on the type of animal, will need regu-

for your pet, and Canada’s mental health

Learn more at nutram.com/camh

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fund groundbreaking mental health research that is helping Canadians on the path to recovery.

"Pets are cherished family members, and give so much unconditional love to us," said Heather McKay, Brand Manager at Nutram. "As pet owners, we are reminded daily of the positive impact pet ownership can have on your mental health."

lar walks or exercise.

Pets make us live in the moment

Pets don't worry about tomorrow or what happened yesterday. Pets help distract us from our worries and fears.

Pets provide companionship

After a stressful day, we can share our problems with our attentive pets.

They may not always understand, but they listen, love us and want us to feel better. It has been found that people are more joyful and energized when around a pet.

Pets keep us active

Pets can increase opportunities to exercise, get outside and socialize.

Regular walking or playing with pets can improve our mood and overall health. Healthy bodies tend to lead to healthy minds.

"Nutram's support of CAMH is a natural partnership," McKay says. "We are honoured to support CAMH in their mission to create a better future for those living with mental illness or addiction."

Nutram recipes are sold exclusively in Canadian-owned pet specialty stores. Visit nutram.com/locations to find your nearest pet store.

Visit nutram.com/ camh to learn more about Nutram's support of CAMH. This article was sponsored by Nutram.

from every bag of Nutram sold in May Results are confidential and only to sharedhelp to willhealthcare go the providers with yourhealth consent. mental of Canadians.

May is Mental Health Awareness month, and to help make a difference, $1 from every bag of Nutram pet food sold will be donated to The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.