Take a Stand Against Bullying

Today is the last Wednesday of February, which means it's Anti-Bullying Day in Canada. The day, also known as pink shirt day, asks participants and supporters to wear pink shirts to support anti-bullying efforts.

The movement has gained traction in the last few years due to the increased attention surrounding bullying in school and cyber-bullying. Besides wearing pink shirts, anti-bullying day can consist of a number of activities in school or the workplace to draw attention to the importance of helping reduce bullying, and not being a silent observer.

Besides making schools and communities a safe and warm place for everyone; it's important to stop bullying because of the link with depression. Being bullied can make victims feel isolated and affect their general feelings of well being - possibly leading to depression. Both bullies and victims can suffer long term negative mental health effects which may not be immediately apparent.

So even if you missed the pink shirt memo today, remember the message all year long. Bullying has negative effects both short and long term - saying no to bullying creates a safer environment for us all.

Is it the February Blahs?

February has never been a very popular month. The highlights of winter have long passed and summer is still months away, even spring seems like a stretch.

It can be difficult to recognize the symptoms of mental health when everyone around you in in the mid-winter slump. However, it's important to be able to identify between an off day and reoccuring symptoms of a mental illness.

A Here to Help B.C. factsheet provides a thorough list of changes that might indicate a mental disorder:

• no longer have interest in activites you used to enjoy
• find yourself acting sad or angry for no apparent reason
• strange thoughts and voices you can't get rid of
• having trouble concentrating
• used to feel healthy but now you can't shake a persistant sick feeling
• eating habits or sleeping patterns have changed
• feel fear, worry or terror about things in life that everyone else is coping well with
• have been missing more time or school
• have a constant fear of being hurt
• increase in substance use/abuse
• find yourself avoiding people
• constant thoughts about dying, considered suicide

If any of these symptons persist for longer than a few weeks, you could be suffering from more than just the February blahs. It is advisable to seek out professional help.


For support, information or referral on any aspect of mental health and wellness, contact the Mental Health Information Line: 310-6789 (no area code needed)

A conversation about Depression Screening events

So, Sue, you’re excited about depression screening. What is this all about?

This is an opportunity; I would say a gentle opportunity, for people to get a snapshot of how they’re feeling. It works for a whole range of people. We find that often people come to a depression screening because they’ve already identified something’s wrong but they’re nervous about seeking help. Others are just curious about the process. Because we’ve been doing this type of screening publicly for now more then 10 years, we find that sometimes people come back to get some reassurance that they’re getting better, some validation. It’s a really unique opportunity to talk to someone else in a safe environment without having to invest a lot of time or personal emotional risk or money.

So what happens at a depression screening?

Individuals are invited to fill out a short questionnaire. It’s a tool that’s been specifically designed for public screening events. It started off with just depression, now we have it for anxiety, risky drinking and specific populations such as older adults or youth. The depression tools have been translated and used locally in Chinese, and we also have materials in Punjabi and Farsi.

Once someone fills out the questionnaire, what happens?

Their form is scored by a volunteer, and then they meet one on one with clinician (also a volunteer) who will help them interpret their results. The idea is to help people identify whether they need to seek treatment or whether they need more information or reassurance that what they are experiencing is within the normal range, part of the human condition, rather than a crisis. Over the years, we’ve had very few incidences where people were actually in an emergent situation. This is heartening – we find that people are seeking out information before things are getting to the point where they can’t cope. It’s also a way for concerned others to have their observations of their loved one evaluated.

So the same tool is used for a person with a potential challenge and for someone who is concerned about someone?

No. There is an adapted version for the concerned other. It’s their impression, what they observe very different from someone answering from a personal perspective. We take the concerned others just as seriously, because it indicates there is a struggle that is affecting more than just the individual with the potential mental health problem. That is one of the big things that is so devastating about mental health problems – it’s not just the individual but the people they’re connected with that feel the impact.

Do you have a success story?

Jay (not his real name) was new to Canada and had come out to a number of public talks. Some time later he came to a more specific talk about mental health, something where there was more personal engagement. By the time the next screening rolled around, he felt safe enough and connected enough to do a screening, which was carried out in his own language. His results weren’t anything drastic but he did indicate it was the catalyst to seek help from a Western practitioner. The screening gave him confidence to have that checked out as a health concern, not a shortcoming or something to be ashamed of. He is still connected to us, and still comes to our talks.

"Blue Monday" - a depresssion and anxiety screening event
Monday Nov 1 2010 from 5-8 pm at CMHA Vancouver Burnaby office at 175 West Broadway, Vancouver. Please call 604-872-4902 for more information . Space is limited so booking a specific time is recommended.

Exploring depression prevention via the internet

This just in from Australia...a new study on the effectiveness of e-mail strategies to help individuals living with depression.

Very timely info too. CMHAVB participated in a tweetchat last night with a lively on-line mental health community. One of the questions discussed was the "how" of reaching out to folks who might have depression.

The live event happens on-line every Tuesday night from 6-7 pm PST - #mhsm

And, if you are interested in knowing more about last night's chat, it is archived at http://wthashtag.com/Mhsm


Announcing the launch of Mood Memos http://www.moodmemos.com
Mood Memos is a University of Melbourne study exploring a method of preventing depression through the internet. The study is targeted to people experiencing some depression symptoms who are not yet too severe, with the aim of averting depression or relapse.

The Mood Memos study will trial the effectiveness of an email-based mental health promotion for depression symptoms. Emails are delivered every few days for 6 weeks, bringing expert coping advice and information about depression directly to email inboxes.

The Mood Memos study is open to adults 18+ around the world until November 2010. The study is ideal for those who have some symptoms of depression but aren’t being treated, and want to know more about depression and how to help themselves feel better. All data is confidential and participants can remain anonymous. Recruitment to the study is via the website, visit http://www.moodmemos.com to sign up or email info@moodmemos.com for more information.

Why Mood Memos?
Depression symptoms are commonly experienced and disrupt day-to-day life. They also heighten the risk of developing major depression. Increasing depression literacy and use of effective self-help methods could improve depression across the community. The internet is an ideal promotional medium as it is often used to search for information about mental health issues, and health messages can be widely disseminated at little cost.

The study is funded by the NHMRC and the Sidney Myer Fund, and has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at The University of Melbourne, Australia. The study forms part of a PhD project by Amy Morgan, and is supervised by Professor Tony Jorm and Professor Andrew Mackinnon.

The Cross Canada Run - Wayne Cho over 8000 km of Hope

Wayne Cho began running across Canada (East to West) on May 23, 2008. This week he arrived in Vancouver.

Wayne is running to raise awareness of anxiety and depression. Each day he is breaking down the stigma one foot in front of the other at a time.

Today Wayne came and met with some staff at CMHA VB Branch. Tonight he will meet some participants of our Chinese Mental Health Promotion Program. As I felt this afternoon, they will be impressed, inspired and awed by this amazing young man.

Wayne, speaks with such clarity and passion about facing your fears and just trying your best. He believes in the power that is in all of us and our ability to do great things. His accomplishment is an example.

I want to recommend that everyone take some time and read Wayne's blog. It is a rare and wonderful look at Canada, Canadians and the power to change minds.

Thanks Wayne.