#ICYMI - Bell Let's Talk Day 2024: Creating real change
February 8, 2024 - Defence Stories
On January 24, over 3500 Defence Team members joined the conversation on mental health in support of Bell Let's Talk Day 2024. This year’s hybrid panel discussion, led by Defence Team leaders and mental health experts, focused on building awareness around the stigma attached to mental health and the supports available to us.
Throughout the discussion, panelists highlighted terms relating to mental health that are often misunderstood and can lead to self-stigma. Some specific terms mentioned during the panel included:
Strength
"I think we need to be very clear with everyone about what strength means," Deputy Minister and Mental Health co-Champion Bill Matthews said. "It does not mean showing no weakness. It does not mean you get through everything ‘a-okay.’ It's okay to show some vulnerability and some weakness with your team."
Resilience
Lieutenant-General Frances Allen, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff and Mental Health co-Champion, similarly reflected on how the concept of resilience can be misinterpreted.
"I’ve always struggled with the concept of resilience - that many people felt that it meant you need to not let things bother you, that if you had a reaction, clearly you are not strong. I think resilience isn’t not feeling stress. Resilience is finding yourself and finding your normal, and finding the tools to help you do that when life stressors actually do occur.”
Self-care
When asked about prioritizing mental health, Wanda Boudreau, President of the Federal Government Dockyard Chargehands Association and employee-level Mental Health co-Champion, provided some tangible advice.
"Set healthy boundaries and say no to things that are going to stress you out," she shared. "Change negative self-talk and make it positive. These are very important things for each of us to do for ourselves. It's okay to help others, but you have to take care of yourselves as well."
Dr. Monica Valsangkar-Smyth (Ph.D) from the True Patriot Love Foundation Board of Directors advocated for thinking about health as a whole, not as separate parts. "We think of [physical and mental health] as two very different things – in fact, they're not. And we really have to start thinking about mental health issues the way we think about physical issues; if my leg is broken … I’m going to get a cast, and that’s okay.”
Mental Health Care
Lieutenant-Colonel Andrea Tuka, Canadian Armed Forces Chief Psychiatrist, talked about getting treatment in a timely fashion by looking at stepped care approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy with mindfulness (CBTM) and she also encouraged the audience to look into the self-help tips and videos which Defence Team members have access to through Life Speak (You are now leaving the Government of Canada website) for CAF members and Homewood Health for DND public service employees.
There is not just one way, or one day to take action, we can take steps today and every day to support mental health. If you need support, there is a range of services and resources available to you.
To hear the full conversation, all Defence Team members can access the panel's recording.
