Mental Health and COVID

The vast majority of Canadians admit to being impacted by COVID-19, however only 60% are receiving treatment or social support. The mental health issues related to our lock-down and the COVID-19 virus pandemic are especially hard for people with depression.

There are barriers that exist preventing people from receiving the mental health help they need. Affordability is a huge problem. Today, the stigma is still a part of the problem. We promote the need for mental health however some still don’t feel comfortable and are embarrassed talking about it.

How do we, as a society, help those who need it the most? There are government sites as well as charities that offer anonymous and free counselling by registered social service workers and psychologists.

Group insurance providers have two different ways allowing employees access to mental health services. The first is by providing an annual amount that can be claimed for a practitioner, such as a psychologist. The other is by offering employers a plan called an EAP – Employee Assistance Plan. This allows the employee to reach out to a professional, which keeping it confidential.

“We all have a role to play in supporting mental health in Canada,” said Jacques Goulet, president of Sun Life Canada, in a press release. “As an employer, it’s about creating a safe environment for your employees and ensuring they feel supported throughout their mental-health journey. Together, we can break down barriers and open the door for communication for someone experiencing a mental-health condition. Help is out there. No one should face these challenges on their own.”

The Sun Life data also found two out of three millennials have reported dealing with a mental-health issue at some point in their life. 76% of that group said they spoke to loved ones about it.

However, when it comes to finding mental-health support, millennials are the least likely (39 per cent) to seek help from health professionals; 61% haven’t used their workplace mental-health benefits and 76% also haven’t used government-funded services.

We want to share the numbers that are important for everyone to have on hand. Mental health needs to be discussed, and having access to help is of primary importance.

Canada’s suicide prevention hotline — 1.833.456.4566

Kids Help Phone — 1.800.668.6868

Good2Talk (for ages 17-25) — 1.866.925.5454

Hope for Wellness Help Line (for Indigenous people) — 1.800.242.3310

Bounce Back CBT (for ages 15 and up) — 1.866.345.0224

Sherbourne Health (for LGBTQ people) — Sherbourne.on.ca

While we are making these numbers available, we are not recommending any one over the other. We simply want people to understand that help is available.