("Source: https://www.effortrentals.com/blogs/mental-well-being ").
Health is a complex topic and having a thorough understanding of health is essential for healthcare employees and healthcare leaders. There are numerous health issues as well as chronic diseases prevalent in the the Canadian society. The health issue that I have strong research interests in is mental illness. Mental illness is becoming predominant today in different Canadian provinces and population types such as the elderly, the immigrants, the pregnant women, the indigenous community as well as the vulnerable population. In this blog post, I will be discussing about mental illness using the concepts learnt from my first course of Master’s of Health Studies program.
What is mental illness?
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada 2017, mental illness is defined as the diminished ability of a person to function effectively over a prolonged period due to stress, changes in mood or behavior and feelings of isolation (PHAC, 2017). Mental illness encompasses an extensive range of mental health conditions that affect an individual’s mood, behavior and thinking. Depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, eating disorder as well as addictive behaviors are a few examples of mental illness (Mental illness, 2019). As per Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), 1 in 5 Canadians experience mental health issues in any given year and by the time they reach 40 years of age 1 in 2 of them have or have had mental illness (CMHA, n.d.).
Determinants affecting mental health
An individual’s mental health is crucial for their happiness and well being. However, the status of one’s mental health also depends on determinants or factors influencing it. As per the Public Health Agency of Canada, there are multiple factors that impact mental health such as genetics, early life experiences, stressful life events, environmental influences as well an individual’s social, economic and education status (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2017). Canadians dwell in country with varying weather conditions which tends to make them prone to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is triggered because of variation in the amount of sunlight received by an individual and is more common in people residing in the northern territories of Canada. Hence, environmental conditions a person is exposed to also accounts as a significant risk factor that determines his/her mental health (Seasonal Affective Disorder, n.d.).
Laws/policies/programs associated with mental health
As per the report prepared by Butler and Philips in 2013 on the Current Issues in Mental Health in Canada; the federal government plays a crucial role in delivery of health care by funding initiatives through health promotion, research, data collection, policy development and improved access to mental health services across the country. The provincial and territorial government offer numerous programs and services based on the need of their province to help prevent and treat people with mental illness.
With mental health issues rising in all Canadian provinces, there are various programs and services offered by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in each province to help Canadians improve their mental health. In Ontario, the CMHA offers programs such as Mental Health Works and Living Life to the Full. Mental Health Works is a program that provides workshops on mental health to both employees and employers at a workplace. Living Life to the Full is a course conducted over a period of eight weeks that provides valuable tools to people to enhance their mental strength and get through challenges they are facing in their everyday lives (CMHA, n.d.).
Understanding mental health using multilevel approach/healthcare model
To understand health in a simplified manner we have multiple healthcare models that are particularly useful. During my research and blog post on using healthcare models, I found the social-ecological model of health beneficial to understand to a lot of health issues such as substance abuse, adolescent pregnancy, mental illness etc. Below is a diagrammatic illustration of the most commonly used social-ecological model of health.
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Research conducted by Sheinbein and colleagues on the topic factors associated with depression and anxiety symptoms among children seeking treatment for obesity, shows that children with obesity are more likely to suffer from depression than other children. Additional research by Birch and Davison 2001, revealed that family environmental factors also affect childhood obesity. A child’s family eating environment comprises of the parents eating habits and their child-feeding practices. Unhealthy eating habits can lead to obesity which further adds to depression in children. Hence age, environmental factors such as family environment are components of the individual levels of the social ecological model depicted above that impact mental health issues like depression not just in adults but also in children.
Is mental health a chronic disease? What are the prevention and management options of mental health illness?
The government of Canada has categorized mental illness as a chronic disease. To minimize the occurrence of this chronic disease, the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) was set up to support Canadians and provide them with tools to assist with mental health problems (MHCC, n.d.). The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care also lends the support towards various programs that help manage and prevent mental illness. Open Minds, Healthy Mind program is one such program initiated by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in in Ontario which is very successful and popular amongst people suffering from mental health and addictions. These beneficial programs are designed in each province for people of all age groups to assist in the treatment of different mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and low self esteem (Ministry of Health, n.d.).
Is mental health affecting various population types?
Mental health is not just affecting the general Canadian population but also the Aboriginal people. Based on the article written by Kirmayer and colleagues 2000, on the mental health of Aborginal people, it has been reported that Aboriginal people experience racism which is linked to higher rates of depression. The consumption of alcohol is also known to be higher in this population type. Excessive alcohol consumption can affect the functioning of an individual’s brain which in the long run and impact their mental health. Unfortunately, suicide is also predominant within the aboriginal community as they experience feelings of sadness due to social isolation as well as lack of readily available health services within their community.
In one of my blog posts on the insights of the health of the Canadian refugees, I have also mentioned that as per statistics Canada in the year 2005 it was reported that refugees experience greater physical and emotional problems than immigrants and remaining Canadian population. The separation of refuges from their homeland in a sort span of time due to situations like war impact their mental and emotional well being. Thus, various population types like the Aboriginals and the refugees etc. are impacted by mental health problems.
What are the future trends in improving mental health issues?
The future of mental health needs to improve significantly considering the alarming rate at which it is rising within the Canadian population. In addition to the programs and services that are offered in each province, there are still a lot of undeserved communities and distant areas where there is lack of education, awareness and support for people suffering from depression and anxiety. In situations like this, technology can play a key role in educating the masses and rendering them the support they might not be able to access due to remote locations. In one of my blog posts in my ePortofolio, I have explained in detail as to how technology is shaping the future of mental health. Telehealth, telemedicine, wearable computing and monitoring devices as well as peer support through social media and technologies are some of the advancements that are gradually shaping the future of mental health of the Canadians (MHCC, 2014).
In conclusion, complex health issues such as mental health can be well understood if one analyses the determinants affecting it, the population type it influences significantly as well as the treatment and management options to minimize it. Through my learning in the course named foundations of health system in Canada, I am fortunate to have acquired the ability to start applying the concepts learnt in understanding a health issue. The creation of an ePortfolio for the course also gives me the opportunity to share my curated resources on health and my blog posts that can serve to be beneficial to future healthcare researchers and health promoters.
REFERENCES
Birch, L. L., & Davison, K. K. (2001). Family Environmental Factors Influencing The Developing Behavioral Controls Of Food Intake And Childhood Overweight. Pediatric Clinics of North America,48(4), 893-907. doi:10.1016/s0031-3955(05)70347-3
Butler, M. A., & Phillips, K. (2013). Current issues in mental health in Canada: The federal role in mental health. Report prepared for Research Services at the Library of Parliament, Ottawa, Canada.
CMHA Ontario. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ontario.cmha.ca/
Kirmayer, L. J., Brass, G. M., & Tait, C. L. (2000). The Mental Health of Aboriginal Peoples: Transformations of Identity and Community. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry,45(7), 607-616. doi:10.1177/070674370004500702
Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2014). E-Mental Health in Canada: Transforming the Mental Health System Using Technology. Retrieved from: http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca
Mental Health Commission of Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English
Mental illness. (2019, June 08). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/symptoms-causes/syc-20374968
Ministry of Health. (n.d.). Mental Health and Addictions. Retrieved from http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/mentalhealth/
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2017, September 15). Government of Canada. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/about-mental-illness.html
Seasonal Affective Disorder SAD. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/seasonal-affective-disorder
Sheinbein, D. H., Stein, R. I., Hayes, J. F., Brown, M. L., Balantekin, K. N., Conlon, R. P., . . . Wilfley, D. E. (2019). Factors associated with depression and anxiety symptoms among children seeking treatment for obesity: A social‐ecological approach. Pediatric Obesity,14(8). doi:10.1111/ijpo.12518
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