JAMES MALONEY MIND YOUR MENTAL HEALTH Spring is a time of renewal. It is an opportunity for us to reflect on new beginnings, on ways to support others and ourselves. I know this has been an extremely difficult two-year period for everyone and with all that we have been through, and continue to face, many have experienced increased stress and anxiety. With all the uncertainty in the world, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that in order to help others, we need to take care of ourselves first. Mental Health Week is coming up in May, and it’s a chance for all of us to get real about our own mental health. I want you to know that you’re not alone. We’re all going through these challenging times together. I am in the midst of organizing my yearly mental health event and pending health regulations, I am planning on hosting it in person. Stay tuned for details. I also want to point out that good mental health isn’t about being happy all the time. It includes the full range of human emotions – even the uncomfortable ones. You have probably heard the stat that 1 in 5 Canadians experiences mental illness or a mental health issue in any given year. However, it’s all of our responsibility to break the stigma around mental health and help those who are struggling. That’s why we’ve invested in mental health services for Canadians. We’ve created programs like Wellness Together, which is a free online portal that helps you find the mental health services, tools, and resources you need. You can access it at www.wellnesstogether.ca. Help is just a click away.
JAMES MALONEY Member of Parliament Etobicoke-Lakeshore
Photo: Jennifer Hartley
standards for mental health services. We have also committed to support the creation of a new national hotline service, which I was part of securing. I am proud of that accomplishment. Let’s all make an effort to be there for one another during these challenging times. Let’s reach out to someone who’s struggling, let’s be kinder to one another, and let’s check in on our friends and coworkers. By being there for each other, we will be able to come out of things we face stronger, together. Remember, better days are upon us. GEMS Don’t forget to vote for your favourite small businesses. All the information is in this issue as well as online on my website www.jamesmaloney.libparl.ca.
We’ve made sure young people have easy access to mental health services too, with funding for Kids Help Phone. www. kidshelpphone.ca. We are committed to improving mental health supports. In Budget 2021, we committed to establishing national 14
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