Did you know that 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health
problem at some point in his or her lifetime? That could be your
friend, your neighbour, or even yourself. The good news is that with
the proper care and support, people affected by mental illness can
continue to lead productive and rewarding lives.
Self-help and Consumer
organizations
Organized in groups, and with adequate financial
support and training where necessary, consumers can collectively
meet many of their mental health needs. Self-help/mutual
support groups offer profound benefits, providing opportunities to
share emotional and tangible support, as well as utilizing people's
own strengths and capacities as sources of help for others.
They represent a fundamental tool to allow people to work together
and take charge of their own lives.
Terminology
Consumer - describe a person who
is the focus of recovery from mental illness.
Recovery - involves a process,
unique to each individual, that may involve changing one's
attitudes, values, feelings, goals, and/or roles, and leads to a
satisfying life that is not controlled by the illness.
Elements of Support Recovery -
factors that contribute to their recovery, including meaningful
work, beliefs, hobbies or daily activities, choices in their lives,
and someone who believes in and stands by them. this might be
a friend or relative, peers in self-help groups or social clubs, or
a service provider who is, "a human being with a human
heart". Services and even medication play a role for some
people, as do connections to community through friends, education,
or interest groups.
Schizophrenia
One of the most serious mental illnesses, schizophrenia affects
about 1 percent of Canadians. Contrary to what many people believe,
schizophrenia is not a "split personality"
Mood Disorders
These illnesses affect about 10 percent of the population. Everyone
experiences "highs" and "lows" in life, but people with mood
disorders experience them with greater intensity and for longer
periods of time than most people
