Healthy lifestyles and mental health

It has been a month and I have a new found love for healthy living. I sleep better. I breathe better. My skin feels softer. I have so much more energy. I wish I would have tried this years ago. My team is "fantabulous". Each of us has set our own personal goals and have accomplished more than expected. The team morale has sky rocketed and we are all well on our way to a new life. Go Team!!!

Photo: Contributed

This week a lady from Canadian Mental Health came in to speak to all the teams about  "Healthy bodies…Healthy Minds”. These are the facts that a lot of people don’t know. I know I didn’t.

Who is Affected

• Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend or colleague.
• 20% of Canadians will personally experience a mental illness in their lifetime.
• Mental illness affects people of all ages, educational and income levels, and cultures.
• Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives.

Give Me the Numbers

• Schizophrenia affects 1% of the Canadian population.
• Anxiety disorders affect 5% of the household population, causing mild to severe impairment.
• Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds.

Causes

• A complex interplay of genetic, biological, personality and environmental factors causes mental illnesses.
• Almost one half of the population that thinks they are suffering from depression or anxiety never see a doctor about this problem.
• Stigma or discrimination attached to mental illnesses presents a serious barrier, not only to diagnosis and treatment but also to acceptance in the community.

Economic Cost

• The economic cost of mental illnesses in Canada for the health care system was estimated to be at least $7.9 billion in 1998 – $4.7 billion in care, and $3.2 billion in disability and early death.
• In 1999, 3.8% of all admissions in general hospitals (1.5 million hospital days) were due to anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, major depression, personality disorders, eating disorders and suicidal behavior.

Sources: The Report on Mental Illness in Canada, October 2002. EBIC 1998 (Health Canada 2002), Stephens et al., 2001

Impact on youth?

• It is estimated that 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder – the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.
• Today, approximately 5% of male youth and 12% of female youth, age 12 to 19, have experienced a major depressive episode.
• The total number of 12-19 year olds in Canada at risk for developing depression is a staggering 3.2 million.
• Suicide is among the leading causes of death in 15-24 year old Canadians, second only to accidents; 4,000 people die prematurely each year by suicide.
• In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children who need mental health services receives them.

Eating healthy and having a good exercise regimen helps with illnesses such as depression and anxiety. That is a start to helping people succeed in overcoming mental illness but understanding more about it will make the world a better place. As the statistics say - we all have someone crazy in our family.

Have a great week and remember - eat well, sleep well, exercise and...Be good to YOU!

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.