Summary
- Did you know that about 500,000 Canadians miss work due to a mental health problem in any given week?
- Mental illness costs the Canadian economy more than $50 billion annually in healthcare costs, lost productivity, and reductions in health-related quality of life.
- Psychological treatments are less expensive than, and at least as effective as, medication for a number of common mental health conditions and work better than medication for most types of anxiety.
February is Psychology Month in Canada. It is observed to highlight the contributions of Canadian psychologists in making the lives of Canadians easy. But you can ask why we should observe Psychology Month and how helpful this can be.
This blog will explain three crucial ways why observing Psychology Month is extremely fruitful for Canada as a country. Let’s delve into details.
Psychology Month: Improving the Mental Health of Canadians
Psychologists study how we think, behave, and feel. They study human behaviour through scientific methods and then provide solutions to improve our lives, according to the Canadian Psychological Association.
Some of the main areas where psychologists work include:
- Psychological determinants of health and psychological elements that support the management of health and illness.
- Neurological, genetic, psychological, and social determinants of behaviour.
- Mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, phobias, etc.
- Psychological aspects of disease prevention and physical health maintenance.
- Chronic illness and disability adaptation and rehabilitation.
- Brain injury and degenerative brain illnesses; pain perception and management.
Psychologists are playing a crucial role in society and the Canadian economy. About 500,000 Canadians miss work due to a mental health problem in any given week. This is a significant number, and it highlights how desperately Canadians need the services of psychologists, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association.
By observing Psychology Month, let’s pledge that we will play our part in spreading awareness about mental health and the role of psychologists in society.
How can students benefit from Psychology Month?
If you are a student and you are struggling with mental health, you can take this opportunity to visit your in-house school doctor. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools and colleges are giving more attention to mental health issues among students. Data shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased mental health problems among students.
Many schools and colleges also take part in observing Psychology Month. So it provides a right opportunity for you as a student to discuss your problem with your trusted teacher or any trusted staff in your school. What is more reassuring and comforting is that more and more schools are creating in-house facilities so that students do not hesitate to visit doctors in these centres and share their problems.
Economic Burden on the Canadian Economy and You
When someone is struggling with mental illness, it also affects his or her family and the society at large. Due to mental illness and related challenges, Canada loses over $50 billion every year in healthcare expenditure, lost productivity, and decrease in health-related quality of life, according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Why should you care about these numbers? We believe we all should care about it for more than one reason. Firstly, these numbers show how large this economic burden is on the Canadian economy. Secondly, suppose we as a country do not lose this productivity or have to spend this money on healthcare; the Canadian government could spend a sum of $1,250 annually on each and every Canadian.
The above-mentioned stats underline the significance of Psychology Month and why we should observe it. The Psychologists’ Association of Alberta also believes that Psychology Month is a wonderful opportunity for public education and promotion of the psychology profession.
Leading professional associations, research institutes, hospitals, etc. in Canada are playing their part to spread information about mental illnesses and how psychologists can help the people. We, as individuals, can also talk about mental challenges among our friends and family and encourage them to talk about these issues. The more we talk about mental illnesses openly, the easier it will be for people to open up about their mental challenges.
Conclusion
Every year, February provides us an opportunity to observe Psychology Month and know more about mental illnesses. Many countries are preparing new strategies after the COVID-19 pandemic because it suddenly brought mental illnesses to the limelight. It was a time when millions and millions of people had to stay home. Many people lost their jobs. Students were not able to attend their schools.
The research on mental illnesses during and after the pandemic has at least convinced governments and organisations to do more for such issues. We have discussed above in this blog that organisations, including schools and colleges, are now investing more to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Let’s hope that all these new initiatives will encourage more people to seek help whenever they feel the need.
Join Edison College’s Community Support Worker diploma
Edison College offers a 30-week diploma in Community Support Worker: Addictions & Mental Health Specialization. Students in this program are trained to provide help with different mental health challenges.
This diploma is completely online, and it provides a solid understanding and skills to effectively manage clients who need help in substance abuse and other such services. The graduates of this diploma can work in shelter homes, mental health organisations, substance abuse centres, school boards, and other such areas.
The healthcare industry in Canada is growing, and the job opportunities for CSWs are also expected to increase in the future. To support its graduates, Edison College also offers career support, including job placements. Contact us for more information.
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