Strengthen your mental health! See what’s happening for Mental Health Week 2020

April 29, 2020 – Defence Stories

There is no better time to take stock of our personal well-being and #GetReal about mental health and how we lean on others for support.

As we collectively face the COVID-19 global pandemic, Mental Health Week (May 4-10) represents an opportunity to reach out to friends, family, and colleagues. Meaningful social connections help protect and promote positive mental health, and while we can’t be physically close with one another because of physical distancing, we need to stay close emotionally.

“Reaching out to friends and family through virtual means is really important. We as humans need contact with other people, and in these abnormal times, we need to use other means of having social interactions,” said MGen Andrew Downes, Surgeon General of the Canadian Armed Forces.

In recognition of Mental Health Week and building on the theme of social connectedness, there are lots of ways to stay engaged. For example, you can

Follow the official DND/CAF social media accounts to get involved, check out the new DND/CAF COVID-19 web page for information about Defence Team resources and how to take care of your mental health during the pandemic, and consider participating in these digital engagement opportunities that are accessible across Canada:

Ask Me Anything – Mental Health Edition
Monday, May 4

Kick-off Mental Health Week with some wellness tips, learn about the resources available to Defence Team members, and have your mental health-related questions answered by experts Col Helen Wright, Director of Mental Health – CF Health Services, and Sylvain Chretien, Employee Assistance Program Senior Advisor.

The Ask Me Anything session will take place on the CAF Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Power Chat on COVID-19 and Mental Health in the Workplace
Tuesday, May 5: EN 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FR 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm (EDT)

Co-hosted by the Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace and the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS), join a live virtual Q&A event and learn how to maintain social connections while juggling personal responsibilities with professional duties, in atypical working conditions.

*Registration required

LifeSpeak Mental Health Marathon
Wednesday, May 6: 8:30 am – 6:30 pm

Submit your own mental health questions, completely anonymously, and get an answer from a leading expert in real-time. Ask questions about coping with stress and anxiety, mental health in the workplace and at various stages of life, parenting and relationships, and so much more.

*Registration is required for this event. Visit the link and use the following credential to sign in:
Client name: canada
Client password: canada

During this time, you may also want to take advantage of free online courses offered by the CSPS to learn more about mental health and well-being, as well as psychological health and safety in the workplace.

2020 marks the 69th annual Mental Health Week. It continues to be an important initiative that helps to shift societal beliefs and perceptions about mental health and is a time for all of us to focus on promoting behaviours and attitudes that foster well-being, support good mental health, and create a culture of understanding and acceptance.

This Mental Health Week, let’s say more than just “I’m fine” and let’s #GetReal in our conversations with our family, friends, neighbours, and coworkers about how we’re all really doing.

We are all in this together!

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