machado: how can we treat and prevent an illness that hides stealthily under our skin?

her partner was her “one” call before admitting herself to camh

worrying is the fact that it’s not like we don’t talk about mental illness and emotional distress. generally, our society has come a long way from where we have been in history in terms of how we perceive and understand mental health. in years past, we shunned those with mental illness, linked emotional distress with the supernatural, and used asylums as “treatment” facilities. today, schools and workplaces alike are urged to talk about mental health and make emotional wellness programs easy to access, all with the goal of not only getting help to those who need it, but also reducing the stigma that has dogged mental illness and figuring out effective treatment for centuries.

in fact, a quick check of social media will even find “fun” references to mental illness, like stressed out people who post about “taking a g rippy sock vacation” — which refers to time spent in a psychiatric hospital, where patients are given socks with sticky rubber grips on the bottoms — feeling “stressy depressy,” having a “menty b,” (mental breakdown) and making references to suicide using the word “suey.” and while some of this stems from the fact that cute language allows posts about mental illness and self-harm to avoid being deleted by mental illness-aware platforms, some experts, like dr. nicholas westers, also say it’s good, maybe helping to destigmatize mental illness and give people the nudge they need to seek help. but westers, a clinical psychologist at children’s health in dallas, told cnn health he is also concerned that we have gone too far to the lighter side, making it easier for people who are struggling to distance themselves from their mental distress and delay getting help.

mental health conditions have increased 13 per cent in the last decade

but despite the growing spotlight that has settled on mental illness, it doesn’t feel much like it’s helping to prevent or slow the numbers of people affected. according to the world health organization , there has been a 13 per cent increase in mental health conditions and substance use disorders in the last decade (to 2017); 20 per cent of children globally live with a mental health condition; and suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds. approximately 1,000 older adults are admitted to canadian hospitals each year as a result of intentional self-harm, says the canadian coalition for seniors’ mental health. and in any given year, one in five canadians experiences a mental illness, camh reports. in fact, b y the time canadians reach 40 years of age, one in two have — or have had — a mental illness. it costs our economy $50 billion in absenteeism and disability, and employers $17 billion in lost productivity.

certainly, there are a whole host of reasons for these stats , with financial insecurity, workplace stress and burnout being just three. another reason is that despite all the talk about mental illness, it’s still largely an unseen disease, which makes it tough to identify, treat and prevent. like conditions such as heart disease, crohn’s disease, lupus, fibromyalgia and arthritis, mental illness is often referred to as being “invisible,” flawlessly capable of hiding itself from others — sometimes even ourselves — deep under our skin, sometimes with disastrous results.

but with feelings of doom and hopelessness that stem from some unknown reason and place, i might stumble over figuring out the best and most gentle way to respond. i would offer hugs, empathy and compassion — all good things, but just a smidge of what she really needed to feel better and be safe. (in case you are wondering, in situations where you are worried about someone’s mental health, camh advises talking about their feelings — talking about suicide or self-harm won’t increase the chances of it happening, but it might make them feel less isolated and scared; encouraging them to seek help from a healthcare professional, even offering to accompany them; taking them to an emergency department if you can safely; and calling 911 if the risk is immediate.)

what about people who can’t or don’t reach out for help?

well, we keep trying to reach them. this week, camh launched 9-8-8 , a new three-digit number that people can call or text if they are thinking of suicide or experiencing emotional distress or if they are worried about someone they care about. the service allows anyone in canada to connect to a trained responder who is bilingual and ready to listen without judgment. 

there is also deep responsibility within our communities — all of us doing our best to normalize mental illness, eliminate stigma and make it easier for people to seek help when they are struggling. in our own lives, it means making it a habit to connect with the people we love, check in on them and pay attention to subtle changes in behaviour (such as losing interest in favourite things, sleeping more than usual, and avoiding friends and family) that could indicate they are having a hard time.