Data/cleaned_counsel_QA_data.csv

Questions,Answers
what does it mean to have a mental illness,"mental illnesses are health conditions that disrupt a person thoughts emotions relationships and daily functioning they are associated with distress and diminished capacity to engage in the ordinary activities of daily life
mental illnesses fall along a continuum of severity some are fairly mild and only interfere with some aspects of life such as certain phobias on the other end of the spectrum lie serious mental illnesses which result in major functional impairment and interference with daily life these include such disorders as major depression schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and may require that the person receives care in a hospital
it is important to know that mental illnesses are medical conditions that have nothing to do with a person character intelligence or willpower just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas mental illness is a medical condition due to the brain biology
similarly to how one would treat diabetes with medication and insulin mental illness is treatable with a combination of medication and social support these treatments are highly effective with  percent of individuals receiving treatment experiencing a reduction in symptoms and an improved quality of life with the proper treatment it is very possible for a person with mental illness to be independent and successful"
who does mental illness affect,"it is estimated that mental illness affects  in  adults in america and that  in  adults have a serious mental illness mental illness does not discriminate it can affect anyone regardless of gender age income social status ethnicity religion sexual orientation or background
although mental illness can affect anyone certain conditions may be more common in different populations for instance eating disorders tend to occur more often in females while disorders such as attention deficithyperactivity disorder is more prevalent in children
additionally all ages are susceptible but the young and the old are especially vulnerable mental illnesses usually strike individuals in the prime of their lives with  percent of mental health conditions developing by the age of  this makes identification and treatment of mental disorders particularly difficult because the normal personality and behavioral changes of adolescence may mask symptoms of a mental health condition
parents and caretakers should be aware of this fact and take notice of changes in their child’s mood personality personal habits and social withdrawal when these occur in children under  they are referred to as serious emotional disturbances seds"
what causes mental illness,it is estimated that mental illness affects  in  adults in america and that  in  adults have a serious mental illness mental illness does not discriminate it can affect anyone regardless of gender age income social status ethnicity religion sexual orientation or background although mental illness can affect anyone certain conditions may be more common in different populations for instance eating disorders tend to occur more often in females while disorders such as attention deficithyperactivity disorder is more prevalent in children additionally all ages are susceptible but the young and the old are especially vulnerable mental illnesses usually strike individuals in the prime of their lives with  percent of mental health conditions developing by the age of  this makes identification and treatment of mental disorders particularly difficult because the normal personality and behavioral changes of adolescence may mask symptoms of a mental health condition parents and caretakers should be aware of this fact and take notice of changes in their child’s mood personality personal habits and social withdrawal when these occur in children under  they are referred to as serious emotional disturbances seds
what are some of the warning signs of mental illness,"symptoms of mental health disorders vary depending on the type and severity of the condition the following is a list of general symptoms that may suggest a mental health disorder particularly when multiple symptoms are expressed at once
in adults
confused thinking
longlasting sadness or irritability
extreme highs and lows in mood
excessive fear worrying or anxiety
social withdrawal
dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
strong feelings of anger
delusions or hallucinations seeing or hearing things that are not really there
increasing inability to cope with daily problems and activities
thoughts of suicide
denial of obvious problems
many unexplained physical problems
abuse of drugs andor alcohol
 in older children and preteens
abuse of drugs andor alcohol
inability to cope with daily problems and activities
changes in sleeping andor eating habits
excessive complaints of physical problems
defying authority skipping school stealing or damaging property
intense fear of gaining weight
longlasting negative mood often along with poor appetite and thoughts of death
frequent outbursts of anger
 in younger children
changes in school performance
poor grades despite strong efforts
excessive worrying or anxiety
hyperactivity
persistent nightmares
persistent disobedience andor aggressive behavior
frequent temper tantrums"
can people with mental illness recover,"when healing from mental illness early identification and treatment are of vital importance based on the nature of the illness there are a range of effective treatments available for any type of treatment it is essential that the person affected is proactive and fully engaged in their own recovery process
many people with mental illnesses who are diagnosed and treated respond well although some might experience a return of symptoms even in such cases with careful monitoring and management of the disorder it is still quite possible to live a fulfilled and productive life"
what should i do if i know someone who appears to have the symptoms of a mental disorder,"although this website cannot substitute for professional advice we encourage those with symptoms to talk to their friends and family members and seek the counsel of a mental health professional the sooner the mental health condition is identified and treated the sooner they can get on the path to recovery
if you know someone who is having problems dont assume that the issue will resolve itself let them know that you care about them and that there are treatment options available that will help them heal speak with a mental health professional or counselor if you think your friend or family member is experiencing the symptoms of a mental health condition if the affected loved one knows that you support them they will be more likely to seek out help"
how can i find a mental health professional for myself or my child,feeling comfortable with the professional you or your child is working with is critical to the success of the treatment finding the professional who best fits your needs may require research start by searching for providers in your area
what treatment options are available,just as there are different types of medications for physical illness different treatment options are available for individuals with mental illness treatment works differently for different people it is important to find what works best for you or your child
if i become involved in treatment what do i need to know,"since beginning treatment is a big step for individuals and families it can be very overwhelming it is important to be as involved and engaged in the treatment process as possible some questions you will need to have answered include
what is known about the cause of this particular illness
are there other diagnoses where these symptoms are common
do you normally include a physical or neurological examination
are there any additional tests or exams that you would recommend at this point
would you advise an independent opinion from another psychiatrist at this point
what program of treatment is the most helpful with this diagnosis
will this program involve services by other specialists if so who will be responsible for coordinating these services
what do you see as the family’s role in this program of treatment
how much access will the family have to the individuals who are providing the treatment
what medications are generally used with this diagnosis
how much experience do you have in treating individuals with this illness
what can i do to help you in the treatment"
what is the difference between mental health professionals,there are many types of mental health professionals the variety of providers and their services may be confusing each have various levels of education training and may have different areas of expertise finding the professional who best fits your needs may require some research
how can i find a mental health professional right for my child or myself,feeling comfortable with the professional you or your child is working with is critical to the success of your treatment finding the professional who best fits your needs may require some research
if i become involved in treatment what do i need to know,"beginning treatment is a big step for individuals and families and can be very overwhelming it is important to continue involvement in the treatment process as much as possible some questions you will need to have answered include
what is known about the cause of this particular illness
are there other diagnoses where these symptoms are common
do you normally include a physical or neurological examination
are there any additional tests or exams that you would recommend at this point
would you advise an independent opinion from another psychiatrist at this point
what program of treatment is the most helpful with this diagnosis
will this program involve services by other specialists if so who will be responsible for coordinating these services
what do you see as the family’s role in this program of treatment
how much access will the family have to the individuals who are providing the treatment
what medications are generally used with this diagnosis what is the biological effect of this medication and what do you expect it to accomplish what are the risks associated with the medication how soon will we be able to tell if the medication is effective and how will we know
how much experience do you have in treating individuals with this illness
what can i do to help you in the treatment"
where else can i get help,"where you go for help will depend on the nature of the problem andor symptoms and what best fits you often the best place to start is by talking with someone you trust about your concerns such as a family member friend clergy healthcare provider or other professionals having this social support is essential in healing from mental illness and you will be able to ask them for referrals or recommendations for trusted mental health practitioners search for mental health resources in your area
secondly there are people and places throughout nebraska that provide services to talk to listen and to help you on your journey to recovery thirdly many people find peer support a helpful tool that can aid in their recovery there are a variety of organizations that offer support groups for consumers their family members and friends some support groups are peer led while others may be led by a mental health professional"
what should i know before starting a new medication,the best source of information regarding medications is the physician prescribing them he or she should be able to answer questions such as  what is the medication supposed to do  when should it begin to take effect and how will i know when it is effective  how is the medication taken and for how long what food drinks other medicines and activities should be avoided while taking this medication  what are the side effects and what should be done if they occur  what do i do if a dose is missed  is there any written information available about this medication  are there other medications that might be appropriate  if so why do you prefer the one you have chosen  how do you monitor medications and what symptoms indicate that they should be raised lowered or changed  all medications should be taken as directed most medications for mental illnesses do not work when taken irregularly and extra doses can cause severe sometimes dangerous side effects many psychiatric medications begin to have a beneficial effect only after they have been taken for several weeks
if i feel better after taking medication does this mean i am cured and can stop taking it,it is not uncommon for people to stop taking their medication when they feel their symptoms are under control others may choose to stop taking their medication because of its side effects without realizing that most side effects can be effectively managed while it may seem reasonable to stop taking the medication the problem is that most often the symptoms will return if you or your child is taking medication it is very important that you work together with your doctor before making decisions about any changes in your treatmentnanother problem with stopping medication particularly for stopping it abruptly is that you may develop withdrawal symptoms that can be very unpleasant if you and your doctor feel a trial off your medicine is a good idea it is necessary to slowly decrease the dosage of medications so that these symptoms don’t occurnit is important that your doctor and pharmacist work together to make sure your medications are working safely and effectively you should talk with them about how you are doing and if there are side effects that make you unwilling to continue treatment they will work with you to develop strategies for minimizing these side effects or will create a plan for switching to a different treatment that will be a better fit
how can i get help paying for my medication,some pharmaceutical companies offer prescription assistance programs to individuals and families with financial needs while others offer special drug discount cards these programs typically require a doctor’s consent and proof of your financial status they may also require that you have either no health insurance or no prescription drug benefit through your health insurancenin addition there are prescription programs you might qualify for visit healthfindergov to learn more
where can i go to find therapy,different kinds of therapy are more effective based on the nature of the mental health condition andor symptoms and the person who has them for example children will benefit from a therapist who specializes in children’s mental health however there are several different types of treatment and therapy that can help
where can i learn about types of mental health treatment,mental health conditions are often treated with medication therapy or a combination of the two however there are many different types of treatment available including complementary  alternative treatments selfhelp plans and peer support treatments are very personal and should be discussed by the person with the mental health conditions and his or her team
what are the different types of mental health professionals,there are many types of mental health professionals finding the right one for you may require some research
where can i go to find a support group,many people find peer support a helpful tool that can aid in their recovery there are a variety of organizations that offer support groups for consumers their family members and friends some support groups are peerled while others may be led by a mental health professional
where can i go to find inpatient care,if you or someone you know is in crisis inpatient care can help inpatient care can help people stabilize on new medications adjust to new symptoms or get the help they need
where can i go to find other local services,there are likely plenty of resources that can be used to help you find mental health treatment in your community these resources can help you find the right therapist and enable you to better understand viable treatment options and the treatment process
where can i learn more information about clinical trials,sometimes consumers of mental health services may consider participating in a research study when they have not experienced improvement despite having tried a variety of medications and treatments research studies also known as clinical trials may involve the use of new medications or new treatment approaches whose safety and effectiveness is being tested while we support innovation in the field consumers should be cautioned that there are risks associated with clinical trials – make sure you’re aware of them before you enroll
where can i learn more information about creating a psychiatric advance directive,similar to a medical advance directive or a health care power of attorney a psychiatric advance directive is a legal document completed in a time of wellness that provides instructions regarding treatment or services one wishes to have or not have during a mental health crisis and may help influence his or her care
what is mental health,we all have mental health which is made up of our beliefs thoughts feelings and behaviours
what do i do if the support doesn’t help,it can be difficult to find the things that will help you as different things help different people its important to be open to a range of approaches and to be committed to finding the right help and to continue to be hopeful even when some things dont work out
can you prevent mental health problems,we can all suffer from mental health challenges but developing our wellbeing resilience and seeking help early can help prevent challenges becoming serious
are there cures for mental health problems,it is often more realistic and helpful to find out what helps with the issues you face talking counselling medication friendships exercise good sleep and nutrition and meaningful occupation can all help
what causes mental health problems,challenges or problems with your mental health can arise from psychological biological and social issues as well as life events
what do i do if i’m worried about my mental health,the most important thing is to talk to someone you trust this might be a friend colleague family member or gp in addition to talking to someone it may be useful to find out more information about what you are experiencing these things may help to get some perspective on what you are experiencing and be the start of getting help
how do i know if i’m unwell,if your beliefs  thoughts  feelings or behaviours have a significant impact on your ability to function in what might be considered a normal or ordinary way it would be important to seek help
what should i do if i’m worried about a friend or relative,this may depend on your relationship with them gently encouraging someone to seek appropriate support would be helpful to start with
how do i deal with someone telling me what to do,some people may advise you on good evidence of what works with the best of intentions but its important to find out what works best for you
why do i need to keep informed,"it may be tempting to try to block out the world altogether to avoid bad news but its important to keep yourself informed we all have to step up during a pandemic because we all have a part to play in reducing the spread of the virus its important that you know what must be done and how you should do it this is important for the health of your neighbours and your own mental health and taking action can help counter difficult feelings like hopelessness and despair 
 one study from people in china found that people who had reliable uptodate information about the coronavirus and covid illness and accurate instructions on how they should act such as instructions around handwashing and wearing a mask felt more resilient and felt better able to handle the virus people who received good accurate information reported lower levels of stress anxiety and depression this research is available for free at wwwmdpicom 
 of course its okay to set limits staying informed does not mean that you have to follow the news all day check in a few times a day sticking to trusted sources and media outlets while social media can be a great way to keep in touch with family and friends social media can also amplify bad advice vague or untrue stories and other unhelpful information be sure to use good critical thinking skills"
how can i tell if health information is good or bad,"anyone can post anything online its up to the readers to think critically about information to decide if it seems helpful truthful or safe here are key points to keep in mind as you determine which information is worth considering and which information doesnt pass the test 
 its so easy to spread information online and we cant assume that the source were reading or watching is the original source before you can evaluate anything you need to know where the claims come from and determine if its a reliable source 
 reliable sources on the coronavirus and covid illness include the world health organization who government of canada ministries and agencies like health canada and the public health agency of canada the government of bc ministries and agencies like the bc ministry of health and the bc centre for disease control bccdc scientists and researchers at universities and other institutions and health sciences professionals are also important sources of information 
 headlines and titles need to be simple and short so they can sometimes be misleading on their own they may also be purposefully shocking or controversial to entice you to click to read more 
 websites that belong to governments governmentfunded agencies wellknown health providers universities or groups of medical professionals are generally the most reliable be careful of sites that dont list the author or dont tell you much about themselves doublecheck the author and the credentials of any experts quoted or cited to see if they are actually experts in the topic being discussed 
 can you find other evidence from other sources to support the claims does the author list their sources are the sources legitimate like research journals 
 unhelpful sources want you to feel a certain way scared angry distrustful vulnerable phrases like skyrocketing rates of infection are sensational and theyre meant to make people feel afraid on the other hand factual statements like we have  new cases in bc give you important information without playing into your emotions helpful news or information sources want you feel informed and empowered 
 who is paying for the site what products or services are being advertised what links or other sites do they promote are you learning something from a story or experience or are you simply being directed to buy a product or service 
 social media can be a great way to keep in touch with family and friends especially as we practice physical distancing or selfisolation social media can also be an important way to learn from health experts and connect to support services and mutual aid groups in your community 
 like any other source of information its important to use good critical thinking skills when you use social media studies find that searching for health information on social media generally has very mixed results youll see both very poorquality sources next to goodquality sources and its up to you to decide which is which in addition social media posts tend to be short and rarely capture everything you need to consider they are generally useful as a way to start learning or exploring different points of view rather than a place to gather all the information 
 visit wwwmediasmartsca to learn more about digital and media literacy 
 visit wwwhealthnewsrevieworg to learn more about thinking critically around health claims this resource is no longer updated daily but all toolkits and lessons are still available 
 this page is adapted from the evaluating mental health and substance use information info sheet"
why do i need a plan,"there are a lot of things you cant control you cant control what happens next how governments respond or how your neighbours react to the pandemic what you can do is make a plan and decide how youll manage the things you do control like your ability to stay safe follow public health measures stay connected with loved ones and take care of your mental and physical health 
 events like a pandemic change a lot over time and that uncertainty can add to fear and stress the truth is that we dont know what will happen next—but that doesnt mean were all helpless you can do a lot you can 
 map out a daily schedule including times you can connect with loved ones online or by phone 
 plan out daily tasks and goals 
 give yourself a schedule to look up current information 
 make sure you have  days of healthy food and household supplies at home 
 keep medications on hand and talk to your doctor for advice if youre at increased risk 
 educate yourself on public health measures and figure out how youll follow those instructions 
 figure out how youll manage increased childcare demands working for home or other changes to your usual routine 
 determine if youll need financial supports like the canada emergency response benefit or bc temporary rent supplement if your job is affected by covid if you anticipate a need you can find application instructions and gather any documents or other pieces of information ahead of time 
 figure out how youll manage times when you feel overwhelmed or hopeless like calming activities the number for a local support or crisis line a video chat with a loved one or a way to connect with your mental health care provider 
 look for local support organizations neighbourhood groups or mutual aid groups if you need extra help or support or would like to help others in your community 
 some planning will be straightforward but you may also encounter situations or times when its harder to see a solution or good plan of action this is a great time to practice problemsolving skills problemsolving is a method that helps you break down a complicated situation into manageable pieces look for realistic and unbiased information brainstorm possible solutions and test the solutions that you think might work well problemsolving is a helpful skill no matter what else is going on in the world and its an empowering methodical approach when you might otherwise feel overwhelmed or lost 
 check out the following resources for more information about problemsolving 
 wellness module  problemsolving wwwheretohelpbccawellnessmodulewellnessmoduleproblemsolving 
 problemsolving worksheet from anxiety canada wwwanxietycanadacomsitesdefaultfilesproblemsolvingpdf 
 effective problemsolving in the antidepressant skills workbook psychhealthandsafetyorgasw"
how can i maintain social connections what if i feel lonely,"a lot of people are alone right now but we dont have to be lonely were all in this together 
 while you may be physically separated from friends family members and other loved ones it has never been more important to maintain those social connections social connections are an opportunity to seek and share support talk through difficult feelings share a laugh keep uptodate with loved ones and help each other cope this pandemic is a lot for one person to deal with on their own while measures like physical distancing and selfisolation are necessary to slow the spread of the virus the physical separation can amplify a lot of challenging emotions like loneliness and fear 
 think about the different ways to connect that are most meaningful for you for example you might prefer a video chat over a phone call or you might prefer to text throughout the day rather than one set time for a video call then work with your social networks to make a plan you might video chat with your close friends in the evening and phone a family member once a week 
 remember to be mindful of people who may not be online check in by phone and ask how you can help 
 the quality of your social connections matter mindlessly scrolling through social media and liking a few posts usually doesnt build strong social connections make sure you focus on strategies that actually make you feel included and connected if your current strategies dont help you feel connected problemsolve to see if you can find a solution 
 everyone feels lonely at times—maybe you recently moved to a new city are changing your circle of friends lost someone important in your life or lost your job and also lost important social connections with coworkers other people may have physical connections to others but may feel like their emotional or social needs arent met measures like social distancing or selfisolation can make loneliness feel worse no matter why you feel lonely now 
 reach out to the connections you do have suggest ways to keep in touch and see if you can set a regular time to connect people may hesitate to reach out for a lot of different reasons so dont be afraid to be the one who asks 
 look for local community support groups and mutual aid groups on social media this pandemic is bringing everyone together so look for opportunities to make new connections these groups are a great way to share your skills and abilities or seek help and support 
 look for specialized support groups support groups are moving online and there are a lot of different support lines to call if you need to talk to someone to find community services in bc call or text  or visit wwwbcca 
 if you need extra support you can talk with a psychologist or counsellor for free 
 you can access a free phone call with a registered psychologist though the covid psychological support service from the bc psychological association visit wwwpsychologistsbccacovidresources 
 you can access free phonebased shortterm support with a counsellor from a new group called the bc covid mental health network email bccovidtherapistsgmailcom to receive an appointment time 
 for youth people ages  you can talk with a counsellor for free through foundry virtual visit foundrybccagetsupportvirtual 
 call the bc mental health support line at  it’s available  
 chat online with a crisis center volunteer at wwwcrisiscentrechatca daily between noon and am 
 for older adults call the seniors distress line at  
 for youth and young adults chat online with a volunteer at wwwyouthinbccom daily between noon and am 
 for children and youth call the kids help phone at  or visit kidshelpphoneca 
 for tips on managing loneliness check out the following resources 
 coping with loneliness from the canadian mental health association cmhabccadocumentscopingwithloneliness 
 loneliness and social connection issue of visions journal at wwwheretohelpbccavisionslonelinessandsocialconnectionvol 
 wellness module  social support at wwwheretohelpbccawellnessmodulewellnessmodulesocialsupport"
how can i take care of my physical health,"taking care of your physical health is also good for your mental health its more important than ever to keep yourself healthy 
 try to eat as well as you can it may be easier to reach for unhealthier comfort foods and snacks while you spend more time at home but try to keep a balanced approach when you stock up on groceries don’t ignore fresh fruit and vegetables—we still have everything we need to prepare food now that were advised to limit the amount of time we spend in public spaces like grocery stores this is a great time to try out new fruits and vegetables that keep at home for longer periods of time 
 if its safer for you to stay home or you are in selfisolation reach out for help many grocery stores and meal prep services offer safe nocontact delivery you can also ask family or friends to bring you groceries or look for local covid support groups on social media its safest if others leave food and other supplies outside of your door to avoid spreading the virus 
 exercise is an important part of mental health and wellbeing stress management and health sleep however its something that many people give up when they start to feel stressed or overwhelmed 
 if its safe for you to do so spend time outside you should still avoid busy areas or groups and stay at least two metres away from others but there is no reason to avoid walks runs or other safe outdoor activities note that some municipalities bc parks and parks canada have restricted some outdoor spaces to reduce crowds so check the status of your local parks or trails and respect closures—theyre just keeping everyone safe 
 if you prefer to exercise indoors you can also find many different exercises classes online you can try yoga follow a barre class work on your cardio pick up a new dumbbell routine and keep up with crossfit wods from the comfort of your living room look for noequipment exercise routines or classes if you dont already have equipment 
 poor sleep can make even simple problems feel a lot worse than they really are poor sleep can affect your mood your outlook and your patience unfortunately stress and anxiety can really take a toll on your sleep if youre having a hard time sleeping be proactive and practice healthy sleep habits for more check out wellness module  getting a good nights sleep at wwwheretohelpbccawellnessmodulewellnessmodulegettingagoodnightssleep 
 if you have other health problems like a chronic illness check in with your doctor or health care team to see if you need to take any additional measures or precautions remember to plan ahead and do what you can to keep prescription or overthecounter medications medical supplies supplements or other health needs on hand"
how can i use distraction to manage difficult thoughts or feelings,"distraction is a very valid tool to help you cope when everything feels overwhelming or when you feel lonely or isolated 
 if you dont have a lot of energy or focus right now try loweffort distractions like watching tv browsing youtube listening to a podcast or audiobook playing a game on your phone reading an easy book or magazine or working on a simple art project 
 if you have more energy and focus give yourself a todo list every day you can clean and take care of projects around your home work on hobbies connect with family or friends read a new book and catch up on your favourite tv shows you can find interesting opportunities to take online courses from universities all over the world through moocs and other online learning platforms you can learn a new language online or through apps and you can learn new hobbies and activities as more people have to practice social distancing or selfisolation people are finding creative ways to bring the world into their homes you can tour museums and art galleries skype with a scientist watch animals at zoos and nature preserves and more 
 when normal schedules are disrupted its easy to fall into unhelpful habits look for ways to keep yourself on track with healthier habits you could set yourself goals every day or turn activities into a fun competition with friends or family—whoever takes the most language classes wins 
 many communities are using social media platforms like facebook to organize support and help for neighbours if you are healthy and its safe to do so you can sign up to walk dogs pick up groceries and household supplies and help others who cant go out at the moment this can be a great way to make new connections in your area and helping others is good for your own mental health just be sure to follow good hygiene practices and physical distancing—your own health is important"
how can i reframe the situation and find more balanced perspectives,"how you think about something impacts your feelings and your behaviours 
 when we feel stressed out angry or fearful its hard to look at the situation realistically and see all of the options we have remember we all control our own actions and reactions no matter whats going on in the world we can call do something about this pandemic 
 people often overestimate the negative parts—their own feelings their own abilities to manage a difficult situation or the situation itself—and underestimate positive parts—their own abilities to care for themselves and loved ones their support networks and opportunities 
 how does the thought were never going to make it through this make you feel it likely doesnt feel good—and it isnt even true 
 challenging negative unhelpful thoughts can improve your mood validate your ability to get through this and help you see new options or opportunities to stay well 
 stop and notice thoughts that come up how do they make you feel do your thoughts seem realistic if you look at the situation more objectively how can you reframe the thought to make it more productive or hopeful can you find any positive aspects or think of new ways to approach the situation 
 here are a few example 
 im so mad that my event was cancelled this sucks 
 i know this is the safer option for everyone when its rescheduled ill enjoy it more because i wont have to worry about getting sick or spreading the illness 
 i hate spending so much time at home this is so boring 
 im doing my part to keep my neighbours safe its worth it because it keeps people healthy 
 im having a hard time getting used to my new schedule this is so frustrating 
 ill get used to this soon just like i adapted the last time i had to change my schedule now that im home more ill have more time to finish the projects i havent touched in months and im excited to see the end results 
 im really scared and i dont know what to do i feel so overwhelmed right now 
 it makes sense that i feel scared—people are getting sick and we dont know when things will go back to normal but there are a lot of things i can do to keep healthy and im going to do some research so i can do my best when i focus on the things i can do everything feels more manageable 
 were going to be stuck inside forever im already sick of this 
 i understand that it will take some time to manage covid and i trust that health care professionals and scientists are working as fast as they can i know this will end eventually and life will go back to normal 
 the goal is not to ignore the bad or uncomfortable parts of the situation or deny that theres a problem instead this exercise can help you understand the situation more realistically and see the parts that you can control right now"
how can i challenge thinking traps,"what you tell yourself about a situation affects how you feel and what you do sometimes your interpretation of a situation can get distorted and you only focus on the negative aspects—this is normal and expected however when you interpret situations too negatively you might feel worse youre also more likely to respond to the situation in ways that are unhelpful in the long term 
 these automatic thoughts and assumptions are sometimes called thinking traps everyone falls into unbalanced thinking traps from time to time youre most likely to distort your interpretation of things when you already feel sad angry anxious depressed or stressed youre also more vulnerable to thinking traps when youre not taking good care of yourself like when youre not eating or sleeping well 
 here are some common thinking traps 
 thinking that a negative situation is part of a constant cycle of bad things that happen people who overgeneralize often use words like always or never 
 i was really looking forward to that concert and now it’s cancelled this always happens to me i never get to do fun things 
 seeing things as only right or wrong good or bad perfect or terrible people who think in black and white terms see a small mistake as a total failure 
 i wanted to eat healthier but i ate too many snacks today this plan is a total failure 
 saying only negative things about yourself or other people 
 i made a mistake im stupid my boss told me that i made a mistake my boss is a total jerk 
 predicting that something bad will happen without any evidence 
 ive been doing what i can to stay home and reduce the risks but i just know that im going to get sick 
 focusing only on the negative parts of a situation and ignoring anything good or positive 
 i know theres a lot i can do at home but im just so sick of this everything is terrible 
 believing that bad feelings or emotions reflect the situation 
 i feel scared and overwhelmed right now so that must mean everything is very bad and will never get better 
 telling yourself how you should or must act 
 i should be able to handle this without getting upset and crying 
 here are helpful strategies to challenge common thinking traps many people find their mood and confidence improve after working through these skills you can also find worksheets to help you go through each step at wwwheretohelpbcca 
 dont try to get out of a thinking trap by just telling yourself to stop thinking that way 
 this doesnt let you look at the evidence and challenge the thinking trap when you try and push upsetting thoughts away they are more likely to keep popping back into your mind 
 ask yourself the following questions when something upsetting happens 
 what is the situation what actually happened only include facts that everyone would agree on 
 what are your thoughts what are you telling yourself 
 what are your emotions how do you feel 
 what are your behaviours how are you reacting what are you doing to cope 
 take a look at the thoughts youve listed are you using any of the thinking traps and falling into distorted thinking patterns its common to fall into more than one thinking trap go back to the thinking trap list and identify which ones apply to you and your current situation 
 the best way to break a thinking trap is to look at your thoughts like a scientist and consider the hard facts use the evidence youve collected to challenge your thinking traps here are some ways to do that 
 try to find evidence against the thought if you make a mistake at work you might automatically think i cant do anything right i must be a terrible employee when this thought comes up you might challenge it by asking is there any evidence to support this thought is there any evidence to disprove this thought you might quickly realize that your boss has complimented your work recently which doesnt support the idea that youre a bad employee 
 ask yourself would i judge other people if they did the same thing am i being harder on myself than i am on other people this is a great method for challenging thinking traps that involve harsh selfcriticism 
 find out whether other people you trust agree with your thoughts for example you might have trouble with one of your kids and think good parents wouldnt have this kind of problem to challenge this thought you can ask other parents if theyve ever had any problems with their kids 
 test your beliefs in person for example if you think that your friends dont care about you call a few friends and make plans to start a regular video call if you assumed that they will all say no you may be pleasantly surprised to hear that they do want to see you 
 once you have worked through some challenges try to think of a more balanced thought to replace the old thinking traps lets use the following example 
 i feel sad and overwhelmed im having a hard time figuring out what to do 
 im the worst i should be able to handle this 
 labeling 
 should statements 
 examine the evidence i have a lot of challenges right now im worried about my family and everything seems to change so quickly ive successfully handled complicated situations in the past so i know i can do this 
 its okay to feel upset right now—theres a lot going on im going to think about how i got through past situations and see what worked for me im trying to do a lot on my own so im going to talk to my family so we can make a plan and work together 
 try the healthy thinking worksheet at wwwheretohelpbcca 
 check out anxiety canadas articles helpful thinking and thinking traps 
 this page is adapted from wellness module  healthy thinking at wwwheretohelpbccawellnessmodulewellnessmodulehealthythinking"
how can i manage grief,"while a lot of people think of grief in terms of losing a person or pet grief can come up whenever you lose something important this includes 
 losing security like losing your job or wondering how long youll be able to pay rent 
 losing stability or routine like finding yourself working from home or navigating childcare closures 
 losing your sense of safety like fearing you or someone you love might end up with covid 
 losing your social relationships like missing time with family and friends now that everyone must practice physical distancing or selfisolation 
 losing hope for the future like feeling that life will never go back to normal 
 losing important goals like finding your classes sports competitions or performances are cancelled for the foreseeable future 
 losing important milestone celebrations like graduation ceremonies and weddings 
 grief bring up complicated feelings you might feel sad angry frustrated fearful or hopeless you may have a hard time eating or sleeping or feel very tense you may feel overwhelmed and tired you may wonder if life will ever feel normal again 
 everyone grieves in their own way and their own time here are some strategies to try as you navigate your own journey 
 acknowledge and express your feelings in a healthy way give your feelings a name and find healthy ways to express them such as by talking with a friend writing in a journal or making art 
 give yourself as much time as you need grief follows its own schedule give yourself permission to use this time to take care of your wellbeing let go of expectations tasks or other obligations that can wait 
 seek support grief can feel very isolating even though a lot of people are experiencing some sort of loss right now reach out to friends or family and share your feelings look for ways to help and support each other 
 take care of yourself ignoring health and wellbeing can make difficult experiences feel worse eat as well as you can try to get enough sleep spend time outside if its safe for you to do so and exercise regularly think about selfcare activities or strategies that have helped you cope with challenging situations in the past and make time for those activities 
 know that feelings of grief will pass grief may feel intense at times but those feelings will become more manageable over time and will eventually pass 
 connect with a mental health professional if youre having a hard time if youre having a hard time getting through the day coping in unhealthy ways or having a hard time managing difficult thoughts or feelings its a good idea to seek help from a professional like a psychologist or counsellor—many now offer online or phone appointments to find help 
 for everyone 
 bc psychological association find a registered psychologist at wwwpsychologistsbccafindpsychologist 
 bc association of clinical counsellors find a registered clinical counsellor at bccounsellorsorg 
 bc mental health support line call  no area code for to learn about services in your area or just to talk with someone right now 
 for young people 
 kids help phone talk to a counsellor at  or chat at kidshelpphoneca available  
 foundry contact your local foundry office at foundrybcca for foundy virtual and information about local resources for youth ages  
 youth in bc chat with a crisis line responder at youthinbccom available every day from noon – am 
 that discomfort youre feeling is grief in harvard business review at hbrorgthatdiscomfortyourefeelingisgrief 
 grieving from the canadian mental health association at cmhacadocumentsgrieving 
 coping with grief and loss from mind your mind at mindyourmindcawellnesscopinggriefandloss"
how can i find a doctor psychiatrist psychologist or counsellor,"to find a family doctor general physician visit the college of physicians and surgeons of bc to use their find a physician tool you can also see a family doctor at a local walkin clinic though it’s helpful to find a regular doctor if you have ongoing care needs you can also find a psychiatrist through the college of physicians and surgeons of bc be aware that you almost always need a doctor’s referral to see a psychiatrist 
 you can find a registered psychologist through the bc psychological association and the college of psychologists of bc 
 to find a clinical counsellor visit the bc association of clinical counsellors 
 for more on the differences between these service providers see the article the right path for you finding your way to and through services in bc from the finding the right help – navigating the system issue of visions journal"
how can i see a psychiatrist,"a psychiatrist is a specialist doctor in bc you need to ask your doctor for a referral if you dont see a regular family doctor you can ask any doctor at a walkin clinic for a referral 
 in some cases you may be able to selfrefer or make an appointment with a mental health program yourself but that may not get you access to a psychiatrist contact your local mental health centre to see whats available in your area you can search for mental health centres at wwwgovbccamentalhealth if you need help finding your local mental health centre call healthlinkbc at  or visit wwwhealthlinkbcca and use the find health service tool"
how can i see a psychologist,"to find a registered psychologist visit the bc psychological association you can make an appointment on your own you don’t need a doctor’s referral to see a psychologist 
 registered psychologists are not usually covered by msp so you’ll have to pay for the cost of the appointment yourself workplace extended health benefits or employee family assistance programs may cover some costs some psychologists offer a sliding scale based on your income if you’re facing financial hardship you can ask when you make the appointment 
 if you want to learn more about lowercost options to access counselling though not usually by registered psychologists email us with your location and our information and referrals team can see what options there may be in your community 
 if you see a registered psychologist through a public mental health centre like a mental health team or outpatient psychiatry program it will still be covered by msp talk to your care provider if you have questions or want to learn more"
how can i see a counsellor,"you can find directories of counsellors through their professional organizations 
 registered clinical counsellors visit the bc association of clinical counsellors 
 canadian certified counsellors visit the canadian counselling and psychotherapy association 
 canadian professional counsellors visit the canadian professional counsellors association 
 for more specialized counselling professionals such as marriage and family therapists see the federation of associations for counselling therapists in british columbia 
 you can make an appointment on your own you don’t need a doctor’s referral to see a counsellor 
 counsellors are not usually covered by msp so you’ll have to pay for the cost of the appointment yourself workplace extended health benefits employee family assistance programs or private health insurance plans may help cover some costs some counsellors may offer a sliding scale based on your income if you’re facing financial hardship you can ask when you make the appointment 
 learn more about lowercost options to access counselling or email us with your location and our information and referrals team can see what options there may be in your community 
 if you see a counsellor through a public mental health centre like a mental health team or outpatient psychiatry program it will still be covered by msp talk to your care provider if you have questions or want to learn more 
 indigenous community members can access some counselling services locally or through the first nations health authority contact your local band or local friendship centre or contact the first nations health authority"
how can i find a support group,"support groups are a way for people with a common experience to help each other and learn from each other there are support groups for people with any experience of mental illness support groups for people with a specific diagnosis support groups for family members and friends and more 
 support groups are offered by community organizations mental health service providers schools campuses and support agencies here are some general resources to help you find a mental health or substance use related support group in bc 
 talk to your mental health care provider they might be able to make recommendations 
 the mood disorders association of bc offers a network of peer support groups around the province for people who experience mental illnesses like mood disorders or posttraumatic stress disorder they also have groups for family and friends groups are dropin 
 many canadian mental health association branches offer support services including support groups if your local branch doesn’t have their own program they can recommend other services in your community 
 the bc schizophrenia society maintains a directory of support groups and other regular events for family members of people with a mental illness 
 for groups related to alcohol or drug use call the alcohol and drug information referral service at  or  in the lower mainland 
 for groups in the lower mainland search the red book online 
 if you are at school or on campus talk to a school counsellor or your campus’ health and wellness office 
 for online support see some suggestions at wwwheretohelpbccadiscuss this can be particularly useful if you don’t have a group in your community or have trouble getting to an inperson group 
 in order to benefit the most from a support group you need to feel safe enough to share your experiences and thoughts and you need to feel comfortable supporting others it can be helpful to contact the group facilitator or organizer ahead of time to see if a particular group might be a good fit for you we have a checklist to help you evaluate support groups—including when it might be time to leave one 
 sometimes a group just doesn’t work for you and that’s okay if you feel comfortable you can try talking to the facilitator to see if they can recommend another group that you can try"
where can i find child and youth mental health services,"to find help for a child or youth you can 
 encourage your child to talk to a teacher or school counsellor 
 talk to your family doctor or pediatrician or go to a walkin clinic 
 contact your local child  youth mental health office on one of their walkin days 
 use kelty mental health’s help finder tool to find specific services and providers 
 contact the institute of families for child and youth mental health’s youthinresidence or parentinresidence for guidance information and support youthinresidence and parentsinresidence are located around the province if you don’t have one in your community a parent or youthinresidence at the kelty mental health resource centre can help you by phone or email 
 visit wwwfamilysmartca for information and resources on child and youth mental health 
 for young people ages  visit foundrybcca to see if there is a foundry centre in your area foundry offers easytoaccess mental health care physical health care social services and support out of one office"
where can older adults find help for mental health concerns,"mental health concerns are a serious concern at any age and everyone deserves help and support if you’re concerned about your mental health you can 
 talk to your family doctor or go to a walkin clinic 
 call the mental health support line at  no area code for information about services in your area 
 find your local mental health centre or program at wwwgovbccamentalhealth you may need a doctor’s referral to access some programs 
 find your local canadian mental health association branch at wwwcmhabcca and ask for information about local services 
 contact a local senior’s support organization or group and ask for advice you can search for organizations at wwwbcca 
 for general information about senior’s mental health 
 find resources from the canadian coalition for seniors mental health at wwwccsmhca 
 find info sheets in the seniors and depression series at wwwheretohelpbccafactsheetseniorsanddepressionseries 
 if you are concerned about a loved one 
 be honest about your concerns like changes you’ve noticed or problems that have come up 
 give your loved one a chance to talk about their perspectives they may have a different take on the problem or have different priorities in their health care 
 be patient—it will probably take more than one conversation 
 whenever possible aim for cooperation focus on finding an action or solution that everyone can agree on 
 remember that asking for help is hard for many of us and it can be even harder as people’s roles and abilities change if your loved one isn’t willing to talk about their experiences with you right away offer alternatives like the bc mental health support line —no area code needed the seniors distress line  or a local seniors support organization search for organizations at wwwbcca 
 seek support to manage your expectations and your own wellbeing it can be very stressful to see a loved one experience health problems but adults who can care for themselves and aren’t at risk of harm are free to make their own choices—and that includes refusing help"
where can i find selfhelp materials for depression,"selfhelp resources are not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment if you have concerns about low mood it’s best to talk to your doctor first and rule out physical causes for your symptoms however once you’ve checked in with your doctor selfhelp materials can be a great way to learn more about depression and practice different skills at your own pace or in between treatment sessions here are some resources to check out 
 the antidepressant skills workbook was created by two bc psychologists you’ll learn more about depression learn and practice different skills to help improve your mood and learn how healthy changes in other parts of your life can impact your mood they also have similar workbooks for specific groups 
 dealing with depression antidepressant skills for teens 
 a workbook for people who experience problems with depression at work called antidepressant skills at work dealing with mood problems in the workplace 
 a workbook for expecting or new moms called managing depression a selfhelp skills resource for women living with depression during pregnancy after delivery and beyond 
 a workbook for people who experience health problems called positive coping with health conditions a selfcare workbook 
 on the heretohelp site our managing depression series offers three info sheets dealing with a diagnosis of depression working with your doctor for depression and preventing relapse of depression the series helps you be an active partner in your health care build healthy coping skills and selfmanagement strategies and more 
 often depression can affect your concentration and motivation to work through selfhelp materials on your own if you’d like selfhelp materials with a bit of extra support from a person bounce back reclaim your health is a guided selfhelp program for british columbians who experience mild to moderate depression low mood stress or anxiety you can get a dvd of tips to help you recognize and manage symptoms of depression or you can learn more indepth skills in a series of workbooks you complete at home you also work with a trained coach from the canadian mental health association who will offer support and advice by telephone or video conference bounce back is free with a doctor’s referral for more information visit wwwbouncebackbcca if you want to access the bounce back materials without a coach or referral you can do that online in bc at wwwbouncebackonlineca 
 the mood disorders association of bc has a number of videos on mental health seeking help and other topics 
 kelty mental health resource centre also maintains a comprehensive list of websites toolkits books and other resources for young people and families 
 heads up guys offer tips and strategies for healthy living strategies for men who experience depression 
 the bc reproductive mental health program of bc mental health and substance use services has a selfmanagement guide for women who experience postpartum depression called coping with depression in pregnancy and following the birth they also have a guide for aboriginal women and their families called celebrating the circle of life coming back to balance and harmony 
 the follow resources are based outside of bc but they offer a lot of good information 
 moodgym training program is a webbased selfhelp course for people who experience depression it is based in australia but is available for free to anyone 
 moodjuice is a uk initiative that offers selfhelp workbooks including one for depression 
 there are many books and workbooks available to help people who experience depression talk to your mental health care team for recommendations you can find many from your local bookstore or special bookstores specializing in mental health like odin books in vancouver you can also order online within british columbia you may also borrow books for free from the family support and resource centre at bc children’s and women’s hospitals they have many selfhelp and reference materials on depression for women and their partners for parents and for children and youth"
where can i find selfhelp materials for anxiety,"selfhelp resources are not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment if you have concerns about low mood it’s best to talk to your doctor first and rule out physical causes for your symptoms however once you’ve checked in with your doctor selfhelp materials can be a great way to learn more about anxiety and practice different skills at your own pace or in between treatment sessions here are some resources to check out 
 anxiety canada has selfhelp resources toolkits worksheets and videos on anxiety and anxiety disorders for children and their parents teens adults expecting and new moms at wwwanxietycanadacom their mindshift app teaches skills to help users manage anxiety relax and live well although designed for teens and young adults other adults can also benefit from it 
 kelty mental health resource centre has a list of recommended websites toolkits books and other resources for children and for teens 
 the bc reproductive mental health program of bc mental health and substance use services has a selfmanagement guide for women who experience anxiety during and after birth called coping with anxiety during pregnancy and following the birth 
 moodjuice is a uk program that offers selfhelp and information on a number of mental health concerns including their anxiety selfhelp guide if you’d like help for a specific anxiety disorder visit wwwmoodjuicescotnhsuk to search for other guides 
 there are many books and workbooks available to help people who experience anxiety problems talk to your mental health talk to your mental health care team for recommendations there are bookstores that specialize in mental health and wellbeing materials such as odin books in vancouver within british columbia you may also borrow books for free from the family support and resource centre at bc children’s and women’s hospitals they have many selfhelp and reference materials on depression for women and their partners for parents and for children and youth 
 if you’d like selfhelp materials with a bit of extra support from a person bounce back reclaim your health is a guided selfhelp program for british columbians who experience mild to moderate low mood or anxiety you can get a dvd of tips to help you recognize and manage symptoms of anxiety or you can learn more indepth skills in a series of workbooks you complete at home you work with a trained coach from the canadian mental health association who will offer support and advice by telephone or video conference bounce back is free with a doctor’s referral for more information visit wwwbouncebackbcca if you want to access the bounce back materials without a coach or referral you can do that online in bc at wwwbouncebackonlineca"
i’m having a hard time coping with a physical health problem where can i find help,"physical health can have a big impact on mental health here are some resources to help you cope with the emotional challenges of living with a chronic health problem 
 selfmanagement bc offers free programs for adults of all ages who are experiencing any ongoing physical or mental health issues find information and strategies to help manage symptoms and take action toward the best life possible family members friends and loved ones are welcome to attend programs are available in languages other than english including chinese and punjabi on their website you learn more about selfmanagement research and find a workshop or telephonebased support program visit wwwselfmanagementbcca or call tollfree  
 a group of bc psychologists and doctors have created a selfguided workbook called positive coping with health conditions for anyone who is dealing with a health problem and anyone who supports a loved one that experiences a health problem the workbook discusses the links between physical health and mental health and teaches you different skills to help you manage problems and difficult feelings well get active and work on healthy relationships 
 bounce back reclaim your health is a guided selfhelp program for british columbians who experience mild to moderate depression low mood or anxiety you can get a dvd of tips to help you recognize and manage symptoms of depression or you can learn more indepth skills in a series of workbook you complete at home one of the workbooks reclaim your health is focused on living with chronic health conditions you work with a trained coach from the canadian mental health association who will offer support and advice by telephone or video conference bounce back is free with a doctor’s referral for more information visit wwwbouncebackbcca if you want to access the bounce back materials without a coach or referral you can do that online in bc at wwwbouncebackonlineca 
 reclaim your life from illness disability pain or fatigue is a booklet from the canadian mental health association that offers practical tips and strategies to help you cope with a problem and get back to your usual routine the booklet is available for purchase at wwwlivinglifetothefullca it is part of a program called living life to the full an eightweek program that helps people make helpful changes in their lives it’s offered throughout the province and you can find course listings on the website as well 
 many organizations support people who experience a particular illness or health problem these organizations can often help people find appropriate support services or may even offer support groups of their own you can also ask your health care team for recommendations if you can’t find support in person you can see if there are any support groups online 
 if you’re having a hard time coping and feel that you need oneonone support a therapist or counsellor can be a great option you can find more information on finding these professionals at wwwheretohelpbccaaskushowcanifindadoctorpsychiatristpsychologistorcounsellor"
when is substance use a problem where can i go for help,"each person has a different relationship with substances like alcohol and other drugs and people use substances for different reasons what’s beneficial for some may cause problems for others or for the same person in different situations 
 to learn more about substance use check out understanding substance use a health promotion perspective for more on supporting someone else a useful resource is helping people who use substances a health promotion perspective 
 to help you think about your relationship with substance you and substance use stuff to think aboutand ways to make changes is a great workbook another series making healthier choices about substance use tips for cutting back or quitting has a lot of useful tips and resources if you want to change the way you use alcohol marijuana medications methamphetamine and tobacco 
 if you or someone you care about needs more help contact the alcohol and drug information referral service to find support in your area to get help anywhere in bc call  in greater vancouver call  
 to learn more about substance use visit the centre for addictions research of bc"
where can i find free or lowcost counselling,"mental health services like counselling or therapy may be covered by your bc medical services plan msp when you access the service through a hospital or mental health clinic find your local health authority to learn more about counselling services in your area healthlink bc’s find services tool and locator app can also help you find services you often need a doctor’s referral to access these types of programs 
 without a doctor’s referral you need to access care through the private system which is not funded by the government private mental health services can be expensive this can be a real barrier to finding good care while there is no simple answer there are several different places you can look 
 if you have health benefits at work ask about your coverage some plans will cover a certain number of private counselling or therapy sessions in addition a workplace employeefamily assistance plan may offer some services or may refer you to community services 
 some psychologists clinical counsellors or other service providers may offer a sliding scale which means that their costs are based on your income try contacting service providers directly to ask if they offer a sliding scale one private clinic in vancouver has a good list of lowercost counselling options in the vancouver area for those outside of the lower mainland you can still look at this list and see if any similar organizations might be in your community 
 contact a mental health organization like anxiety canada the canadian mental health association bc schizophrenia society institute of families for child and youth mental health mood disorders association of bc or jessie’s legacy they may offer services in your area or they may have local connections that they can refer you to 
 you can also email us and we’ll try and give you some recommendations for your community"
can i get help paying for prescription medications,bc pharmacare covers the cost of some medications through plan g the psychiatric medications plan for people who need a medication to be well but cannot afford them your doctor or nurse practitioner must apply for your coverage on your behalf coverage usually lasts for one year and then you can reapply if needed talk to your care team if you’re interested in plan g
how can i pay for mental health care,"mental health services provided through the governmentrun ‘public’ system like services you receive through your local mental health centre or team an outpatient psychiatry at a hospital are most often completely covered by msp as long as you are eligible for msp you won’t have to pay to see someone 
 for mental health services that aren’t covered by msp such as psychotherapy or counselling with a private practitioner you will have to cover the costs yourself it’s no secret that these services can be expensive but you may be able to offset the costs through 
 extended health coverage from your own or an immediate family member’s workplace benefits 
 employee family assistance program from your own or an immediate family member’s workplace benefits 
 for students school or campus mental health services 
 for indigenous community members services offered through your band friendship centre indigenous support organization or the first nations health authority 
 cultural or faith communities may offer some mental health services 
 you may be able to claim some larger costs related to treatment of a mental health condition on your income tax return under health expenses 
 some providers offer lowercost services or a sliding scale usually based on your income email us with your location and our information and referrals team can help you look for options in your area 
 if costs are a barrier to health care talk to your doctor to see if there are any services in the public health system covered by msp that may be a good fit for you you can also called the mental health support line at  no area code for more information on local mental health services"
how do i apply for income assistance,"provincial income assistance has three income levels basic assistance also called welfare persons with disabilities benefits pwd and the persons with persistent and multiple barriers to employment benefits ppmb all are administered by the ministry of social development and social inclusion depending on the situation mental illness may considered under pwd or ppmb addictions may not be included in ppmb applications 
 pwd benefits are for people who have a disability that prevents them from working or going about their daily activities find information from the ministry and read a fact sheet from the disability alliance of bc with information about the application process 
 ppmb benefits are for people who experience multiple barriers to work find information from the ministry and read a fact sheet from the disability alliance of bc with information about the application process 
 the disability alliance of bc formerly the bc coalition of people with disabilities and help you navigate pwd and ppmb programs as well as canada pension plan benefits they have indepth information on preparing your application working through the application process and handling appeals povnet can also connect you with an advocate to help you through the application process 
 for more on provincial pwd benefits and advocacy tips see getting by on social assistance navigating the ‘welfare’ system or read other articles in our income issue of visions journal"
what is msp,"msp stands for medical services plan it’s a health insurance program managed by the government for people who live in british columbia canada msp pays for things like doctor’s appointments appointments with specialist doctors like psychiatrists and hospital stays you need to treat a medical problem 
 everyone who lives in bc must enroll in msp you pay a monthly fee based on your income some workplaces cover the costs of msp fees for you 
 learn more about msp here if you have questions about applying for or managing your msp coverage call health insurance bc at   in the lower mainland or  in the rest of bc they are open monday – friday from am – pm you can also get help in person at your local service bc office 
 if you are new to bc you have to wait three months before registering for msp 
 bring your care card or bc services card with you when you go to medical appointments or use the pharmacy"
what is a referral,"a referral means someone recommends you to another service in health care it usually means a request from your doctor to see a specialist like a psychiatrist 
 to access any specialist in bc you first need a referral you may need to meet certain criteria like a specific diagnosis or specific symptoms to access some specialists your doctor can tell you what to expect 
 once your doctor has made the referral the specialist’s office will contact you with an appointment time make sure your doctor’s office has your current contact information so the specialist can reach you 
 the process is the same whether you see the same family doctor or visit a walkin clinic 
 not all mental health programs in bc require a doctor’s referral this is good news for people who are looking for help a selfreferral means that you ask to see someone and then you will be evaluated to see if you meet the criteria to receive services contact your local health authority to learn more about programs in your area"
whats the difference between a psychiatrist and a registered psychologist,"a psychiatrist is a medical doctor with extra training in mental health who can choose to prescribe medications some use psychotherapy ‘talk therapies’ approaches like cognitivebehavioural therapy to treat mental health problems many psychiatrists work at hospitals clinics or health centres and some have a private office as they are specialist doctors you will almost always need another doctor’s referral to see a psychiatrist and fees are covered by msp if you have a valid bc services or carecard you do not need to pay to see a psychiatrist 
 a registered psychologist focuses on different talk therapy or counselling approaches to treatments but they don’t prescribe medication they have graduate degrees in psychology there are two different ways to access registered psychologists the public system and the private system registered psychologists in the public system work in some hospitals or schools you may need a doctor’s referral to access the program and costs are usually covered by msp however most people need to access registered psychologists through the private system to do this you can contact the psychologist yourself—you do not need a referral costs are not covered by msp but they may be covered by employee health plans a registered psychologist’s fees charged by hour vary and some offer lower fees to people with lower incomes 
 you’ve probably noticed that a lot of the differences come down to how you pay for different services and how these professionals are educated the practical differences in how they work are not always so clear when it comes to your treatment and care the most important part is finding a professional who supports your own goals are you really focused on finetuning medications are you looking for a particular therapy approach does the professional’s philosophy of care make sense to you do you like the professional you’re talking to and do you feel safe sharing your experiences ultimately your relationship with the professional is what matters instead of focusing on designation look for a professional who meets your needs and your expectations 
 talk to your family doctor and ask for their recommendations 
 ask local mental health organizations for help you can find local branches through the provincial organizations behind heretohelp 
 ask a community health centre outpatient psychiatry program or mental health team for suggestions 
 for a list of psychiatrists near you search under ‘specialist’ in the college of physicians and surgeons of british columbia’s find a physician tool but remember that you will first need a referral from a doctor like your family doctor 
 for a list of psychologists near you search in the british columbia psychological association’s find a registered psychologist tool and you can also learn more about finding a psychologist from the college of psychologists of british columbia"
whats the difference between psychotherapy and counselling,"psychotherapy and counselling have a lot in common and usually mean the same thing both are used to describe professionals who use talkbased approaches to help someone recover from a mental illness or mental health problem many different professionals may provide counselling or psychotherapy including registered psychologists registered clinical counsellors psychiatrists other therapists and counsellors family doctors psychiatric nurses and faith leaders 
 it’s useful to talk to someone about any problem—a lot of people find that simply talking with friends or family can help them feel better a professional therapist or counsellor can offer more they have training experience and emotional distance since they don’t know you they use different theories to listen to you support you and approach different problems or patterns for example a psychotherapy called cognitivebehavioural therapy is based on the theory that learning skills to change your thinking and actions can positively impact your emotions wellbeing and future thoughts and behaviours a therapist could help you learn and practice these skills 
 there are many psychotherapies with good evidence of being effective for different problems or illnesses a few examples include cognitivebehavioural therapy interpersonal therapy dialectical behaviour therapy solutionsfocused brief psychotherapy narrative therapy and emotionfocused therapy 
 in general some aspects of therapy and counselling are the same no matter which approach you choose the expectations you bring to your counselling sessions the match between your understanding of the problems and your therapist’s understanding of the problem and the trust and rapport that you have with your therapist in fact one research review found that  of the improvement seen in clients who just received active listening and support from a counsellor called nondirective supportive therapy was due simply to the relationship between client and therapist psychotherapy can and does work but the professional you choose and their match with your values is also very important 
 when you’re looking for a professional it’s always a good idea to ask if they are a member of a professional organization like those listed in the next section"
whats the difference between cbt and dbt,"cbt cognitivebehavioural therapy and dbt dialectical behaviour therapy are two forms of psychotherapy or “talk therapy” in both you work with a mental health professional to learn more about the challenges you experience and learn skills to help you manage challenges on your own 
 cognitivebehavioural therapy or cbt teaches you how your thoughts feelings and behaviours influence each other for example if you believe that people don’t like you thought you might avoid social situations behaviour and feel lonely feeling however cbt teaches you how to use these relationships to your advantage a positive change in one factor changing a thought or behaviour can lead to positive changes in all factors cbt is an approach that has been proven by research to work for many different mental health problems including depression anxiety disorders eating disorders and substance use problems 
 cbt is structured shortterm goaloriented and focused on the present it starts with education around the particular mental illness or challenge and how the illness or challenge affects you next you’ll learn and practice skills and strategies like problemsolving or realistic thinking to help you make changes in your thoughts feelings and behaviours you’ll learn how you can use your new skills to deal with problems in the future 
 dialectical behaviour therapy or dbt is based on cbt with greater focus on emotional and social aspects dbt was developed to help people cope with extreme or unstable emotions and harmful behaviours dbt is an evidencebased approach to help people regulate emotions it started as a treatment for borderline personality disorder and current research shows it may help with many different mental illnesses or concerns particularly selfharm 
 key differences between cbt and dbt are validation and relationships dbt teaches you that your experiences are real and it teaches you how to accept who you are regardless of challenges or difficult experiences relationships are also very important in dbt—including the relationships between you and your dbt practitioner you may have frequent checkins to talk about any successes or problems treatment may include a mix of oneonone sessions and group sessions in addition to cbt skills you’ll learn skills around managing your emotions building relationships with others coping well with problems or distress acceptance and mindfulness 
 as with many talk therapies it takes time and effort to enjoy the benefits of cbt and dbt skills but once people master skills with support from your cbt or dbt therapist they often find that their new skills and strategies become second nature—they are tools that last a lifetime"
whats the difference between antidepressants,"there are many different types of antidepressant medications and they each work in different ways antidepressants are divided into “classes” based on what they do and which chemical messengers in the brain called neurotransmitters they are thought to influence each class may contain several different medications which each have slightly different ways of working below you’ll find common classes and examples of common medications the first name is the generic name and name in brackets is the brand name 
 ssris or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors fluoxetine prozac paroxetine paxil citalopram celexa escitalopram cipralex and sertraline zoloft 
 snris or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors venlafaxine effexor and duloxetine cymbalta 
 ndris or norepinephrinedopamine reuptake inhibitors bupropion wellbutrin and zyban 
 nassas or noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants mirtazapine remeron which can also be classed as a teca or tetracyclic antidepressant 
 saris or serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors trazodone desyrel 
 there are other classes of antidepressants such as maois or triclycics that are much older and have more side effects or restrictions they are usually prescribed when newer antidepressants don’t work other medications such as lithium thyroid medication or antipsychotics may also be prescribed often in combination with an antidepressant to boost its effect antidepressants are not only used to treat depression—they may be prescribed to treat other illnesses like anxiety disorders 
 only medical doctors like family doctors or psychiatrists can prescribe antidepressants if your doctor recommends that you consider antidepressants keep in mind that most people have to try a few different options before they find the right medication it can be a frustrating process especially when you feel unwell but it’s important to find something that works for you side effects and benefits can vary significantly between different people and it’s difficult to predict how a medication might work without trying it out first everyone responds to them differently it’s very important to have ongoing discussions with your health care team regarding your medication so you can bring up any problems or concerns—or even ask more about how your particular antidepressant works"
i received a diagnosis but i don’t think it’s right what can i do,"if possible bring up your concerns with the professional who provided the diagnosis that way the professional can answer your questions and you can better understand their decision 
 if that doesn’t resolve the situation or a followup appointment isn’t possible you can ask for a second opinion a second opinion is an assessment from a different professional this can give you better understanding of what’s going on and what to do about it second opinions are common when it comes to major health decisions—you won’t hurt anyone’s feelings and your doctor will try to accommodate reasonable requests for a second opinion talk to your family doctor or go to a walkin clinic to discuss your options and get a referral to a different program or health professional if needed 
 for more how to get a second opinion see healthlinkbc’s factsheet at wwwhealthlinkbcca 
 for general tips on managing a diagnosis of a mental illness and working well with health care professionals see heretohelp’s managing a mental illness series"
i was prescribed an antidepressant or other psychiatric medication but i don’t think it’s working what can i do,"if you’re concerned about your medications it’s important to talk with the doctor or psychiatrist who prescribed your medications while it can take a few weeks to really see improvements with many antidepressants it’s still a good idea to talk to your doctor about what to expect 
 talk to the doctor that prescribed your medication if you experience symptoms or side effects that are distressing you if you want to talk to a trusted professional about the most common side effects call your pharmacist you can reach a pharmacist by phone afterhours by calling  
 it’s also best not to stop taking the medication or changing the dose on your own without first talking to a health care provider while it might be tempting to stop taking your medication when you start feel better it’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions 
 in some cases people can have an allergic reaction to a medication some reactions are not serious like a rash in these cases you can call the pharmacist or call  to reach help afterhours if you have a serious reaction like difficult breathing dizziness or confusion call  right away 
 when you start a new medication your pharmacist will give you a printout with information like side effects signs of an allergic reaction how long it might take to work and other information it’s good information to keep on hand but it isn’t always easy to read when you pick up your medication you can ask the pharmacist to go over the information with you so you understand what you should look for 
 if a particular antidepressant or psychiatric medication just isn’t working for you there are many different options unfortunately finding the right medication can take some trial and error different people can have very different experiences with the same medication and often you need to try something to see if it works or doesn’t work for you this can be a frustrating process especially when you want to start feeling better but it’s important to keep trying and work with your doctor so you understand your options many people feel intimidated talking to health professionals but it’s important to share information so you both understand what’s going on and can make good informed decisions about your health care some people also feel embarrassed talking about symptoms or side effects like changes in sex drive or digestion but its important information for your doctor and they know that changes in sex drive or digestion are common concerns you can find strategies including a mood journal to help you work with doctors and other health care providers in our working with your doctor toolkit"
an adult in my life seems ill and won’t find help what can i do,"it’s difficult when an adult child sibling parent friend coworker or other important person is struggling or behaving in ways that are causing harm this can be a tricky situation—you want to help but most adults are responsible for their own care 
 there are two important points to think about first diagnosing a health condition especially when symptomchecking is so easy online can be dangerous diagnosis is still always best left to professionals who can look at the whole picture remember too that the person you care about may have a very different idea of what’s causing their difficulties and what the negative impacts are on their life second except in rare cases the person being treated needs to be an active player in their own recovery to continue with their treatment just as they would for any other health problem if the vast majority of cases you cannot do this work entirely for them—and trying to do so may damage your relationship 
 be honest about your concerns the impacts you are seeing that worry you listen to their point of view and work together to find a solution that works for everyone even if it means a compromise you may want to offer to go with them to an appointment encourage them to do an online screening selftest or involve someone else close to them who may be similarly concerned and may have more influence in encouraging them to notice changes and seek help because you may be feeling frustrated and helpless it’s important to get care and support for yourself during this time especially if you’re very close to the person you’re worried about 
 in serious situations the bc mental health act allows someone to be held for a period of time for psychiatric assessment without their consent if they are at risk of harming themselves or others while it’s necessary in some situations to get someone the care they need it can be traumatic for everyone involved for more on the bc mental health act see the guide to the mental health act"
i’m worried about my child or teenager where can i find help,"it can be hard to figure out what to do if you’re concerned about a young person in your family many people start by talking with their family doctor if you don’t have a family doctor you can find a doctor through the college of physicians and surgeons of bc you can also visit a walkin clinic depending on the situation your family doctor may offer everything you need if your child needs more specialized services such as psychiatry services your family doctor needs to make a referral for your child many family doctors can also recommend community services or supports in your community learn more about the role of family doctors in the info sheet what to expect from your family or walkin clinic doctor 
 if your child’s difficulties affect their performance or behaviour at school the school may be involved if your child’s school has a counsellor talk to them about services you can access through the school school counsellors can also suggest community services see the info sheet what to expect from your childs school 
 kelty mental health resource centre offers information resources peer support and system navigation to children youth and families experiencing mental health or substance use challenges their help finder tool and help you navigate the mental health system kelty mental health is based at bc children’s hospital in vancouver but they support young people and their families across the province 
 institute of families for child and youth mental health advocates for healthy young people and family support they offer resources and education events across bc 
 the canadian mental health association’s bc division offers confident parents thriving kids a phonebased education and support program to help parents or caregivers manage mild to moderate behaviour problems for children ages  to  this program is free but it requires a doctor’s referral 
 you may also want to check out these resources from heretohelp on child and youth mental health and substance use"
someone i care about has a brain injury where can i find more information,"a brain injury itself isn’t the same as a mental illness though someone who experiences a brain injury may also experience mental health problems these mental health problems may stem from the injury itself or from thoughts around the injury like feelings of loss anger or frustration when quality of life changes in some cases mental health challenges may not be related to a brain injury at all the good news is that mental health problems are treatable even if you or someone you care about has experienced a brain injury it may be helpful to find a service provider who is familiar with both brain injuries and mental health 
 for more information and support visit the bc brain injury association you can also find local and regional groups and organizations in bc through the brain injury association of canada"
someone i love has been diagnosed with depression how can i help,"we naturally want to help a loved one who isn’t feeling well how we can or should help may seem fairly obvious when a loved one experiences a physical health problem but many people say they’re not sure how to best help when a loved one experiences a mental illness like depression here are some tips 
 you don’t have to understand exactly what someone else is experiencing you just need to recognize that it’s a difficult experience you can try something like “i can see that this experience or these symptoms are really painful for you” or “i’m sorry to hear that you’re feeling unwell” if you have experienced depression yourself you might say “i know how you feel” just remember that everyone experiences illnesses like depression differently and empathy is about recognizing the impact of the illness not comparing symptoms 
 you don’t have to be an expert but learning more about depression can help you understand what’s going on and maybe dispel some of the unhelpful myths around depression our depression info sheet is a great place to start and we have a list of resources at qa where can i learn more about depression 
 sometimes talking about problems or concerns can really help—in fact many people who experience a mood disorder say that they just want to be heard it’s important to understand that talking about something difficult like experiences of depression can be very hard for your loved one you cannot force them to talk about it but you can invite them to and create safe and quiet spaces to talk if a loved one opens up to you listen actively—that is without distractions like your phone or the tv really pay attention to what they have to say listen with empathy and without judgement even if you don’t understand the problem or see the problem in a different way your main concern is the distress or difficult feelings your loved one is experiencing you can find indepth tips on listening and communicating well in module three of the family toolkit some people are not ready to talk about everything at once or at all that’s okay respect your loved one’s boundaries and let them tell you what they’re ready to talk about 
 even when you have the best intentions unsolicited advice can be unhelpful you likely can’t fix the problem and you may not know the whole story if you’d like to share what worked for you in a similar situation you can ask if the other person would like to talk about strategies that worked for you 
 different people need different things—don’t assume you know what’s best some people need emotional help like someone they can talk with other people may have a good relationship with a counsellor or other professional but they might need practical help like help around the house or help sticking to their treatment plan and others may simply want to be included in some social events by asking what a person needs you may also be less tempted to give advice 
 when people experience an episode of depression they can have a lot of very negative thoughts and feelings this can take a real toll on others it’s a good idea to seek support for yourself—there are support groups just for family members and friends the bc schizophrenia society has a directory of family support groups around bc for any mental illness 
 if your loved one isn’t happy with their treatment or would like to try a different option you can also help them seek different resources or services you can find general advice in the ask us section of heretohelp to find local services call the bc mental health support line at  no area code or email us 
 this is very important you are not responsible for your loved one’s treatment unless your loved one is your child under —but you can support them as they work towards recovery in most cases your loved one’s treatment and recovery plans are their choice—you are there to offer support and encouragement 
 in order for any treatment to work your loved one needs to be actively involved forcing or threatening treatment generally doesn’t work and will only hurt everyone involved in most cases anyone  years of age and older is free to make their own choices and their choices may include refusing treatment or choosing a treatment you disagree with it’s important to be respectful and keep honest communication open between you you can learn more about dealing with this situation in ask us an adult in my life seems ill and won’t find help what can i do 
 if your loved one says that they have thoughts of ending their life it’s important to take action call suicide  at any time or message online at wwwcrisiscentrechatca between noon and am if you think your loved one is in immediate danger you can always call  or go to a hospital emergency room"
someone i love has been diagnosed with schizophrenia how can i help,"we naturally want to help a loved one who isn’t feeling well how we can or should help may seem fairly obvious when a loved one experiences a physical health problem but many people say they’re not sure how to best help when a loved one experiences a mental illness like schizophrenia here are some tips 
 you don’t have to be an expert in schizophrenia but learning more can help you understand what’s going on there are a lot of myths about schizophrenia so it’s a good idea to find some trustworthy resources our schizophrenia info sheet is a great place to start you can also find a lot of information from the bc schizophrenia society 
 sometimes talking about problems or concerns can really help it’s important to understand that talking about something difficult like experiences of schizophrenia can be very hard for your loved one—and the symptoms of schizophrenia can also make conversations difficult if a loved one opens up to you listen actively—that is without distractions like your phone or the tv really pay attention to what they have to say give them time to finish their thoughts even if it takes a bit longer than usual listen with empathy and without judgement even if you don’t understand the problem or you see the problem in a different way your main concern is the distress or difficult feelings your loved one is experiencing you can find indepth tips on listening and communicating well in module three of the family toolkit some people are not ready to talk about everything at once or at all that’s okay respect your loved one’s boundaries and let them tell you when they’re ready to talk 
 symptoms of schizophrenia like hallucinations sensations that aren’t real like hearing voices or delusions beliefs that can’t be true like believing that you are being followed by a spy can take some time to stop even when people are receiving treatment and following their treatment plan as a group these very distressing symptoms are called psychosis many people have a hard time responding to a loved one’s hallucinations or delusions it’s best to avoid arguing about these experiences remember that delusion are symptoms of schizophrenia—they are not thoughts that you can talk someone out of telling someone that their experiences aren’t real or aren’t true doesn’t help when the experiences feel very real to that person a better approach is to empathize with the feelings that hallucinations or delusions bring up—without confirming or denying the hallucination or delusion for example if a loved one is frustrated or upset when they hear voices it isn’t helpful to say something like “you’re okay it isn’t real i don’t hear anything” instead you might say “i can only image how upsetting that voice must be i can see the voice makes you feel scared” know that with good treatment and support symptoms like hallucinations and delusions become much easier for people to manage and lose importance 
 ask how you can help when people experience a serious mental illness like schizophrenia they may want to plan how they can take action if they start to feel unwell again especially if they have dependent children these plans such as advanced directives or ulysses agreements are made when a person feels well and are meant to communicate their wishes to loved ones and their care team ask your loved one if they have a plan in place so you know what they need if they need help if you’d like to learn more about planning for care see the bc schizophrenia society 
 if a loved one is experiencing an episode of psychosis or is recovering for an episode of psychosis they might need extra help for example people who are actively experiencing hallucinations or delusions might need a lot of personal space and feel uncomfortable being around a lot of people or even making eye contact when people are recovering from an episode of psychosis they may need a quiet space and a lot of rest sometimes people can get back into their usual routines fairly quickly while other times it may take a lot of time and effort to get back into routines keep in mind that too much help can be a bit counterproductive it may well be faster and easier for you to take care of your loved one’s tasks or chores yourself but rebuilding activity and confidence are a big part of recovery encourage and support your loved one as they take on daily responsibilities and let them tell you when they need extra help 
 schizophrenia can be a difficult illness—for everyone during episodes of psychosis your loved one may experience frightening sensations that you can’t understand they may act in ways that you don’t understand other symptoms of schizophrenia can make it hard for people to express emotions or feelings communicate clearly or seem interested in others it’s important to know that these are symptoms of an illness they are no one’s fault but they can still be hard to cope with consider reaching out to a family and friends support group for your own support the bc schizophrenia society has a directory of groups around bc at wwwbcssorgmonthlymeetingscalendar 
 as a family member it’s important to take care of yourself try to maintain your regular schedule and activities such as your exercise routine and hobbies ask another family member or good friend to provide help with caregiving especially in the early days of your loved ones illness if you need help balancing time for selfcare with caregiving duties check out the bc schizophrenia society’s family respite program 
 try to maintain your friendships or the network of people that you have in your life these will later become important supports as your loved one recovers educate them and update them on your loved ones recovery people are sometimes afraid to ask questions about schizophrenia and this will put them at ease 
 this is very important you are not responsible for your loved one’s treatment unless your loved one is your child under  but you can support them schizophrenia can make it difficult for people to make and go to appointments and follow their treatment plan with your loved one’s permission you may choose to help by reminding them of appointments taking them to appointments or whatever helps in your situation if your loved one isn’t happy with their treatment or would like to try a new approach you can encourage them to talk with their care team like their doctor or mental health team—it can be dangerous to stop or change a treatment without a doctor’s support 
 treatment can be a difficult area for loved ones it’s hard to see someone you love in pain you might be scared of the things your loved one is experiencing you want to help but in order for any treatment to work your loved one needs to be active in their care forcing or threatening treatment generally doesn’t work or if it does in the case of an emergency only for a short time and can often hurt everyone involved in most cases anyone  years of age and older and not at risk of harm is free to make their own choices and their choices may include refusing treatment or choosing a treatment that you disagree with it helps everyone if you can be respectful and keep honest communication open between you you can learn more about dealing with this situation in qa an adult in my life seems ill and won’t find help what can i do 
 if you think your loved one is at risk of harming themselves or others and they refuse help it is possible to have them evaluated by a psychiatrist under the mental health act this process may involve police and other first responders and it can be a difficult and stressful process for everyone but it can also be a necessary step if someone is in danger you can learn more about the mental health act in the info sheet families coping with a crisis and you can find the guide to the mental health act at wwwhealthgovbccalibrarypublicationsyearmentalhealthguidepdf for a more indepth discussion of the mental health act see a video with lawyer and health law consultation gerrit clements 
 if your loved one says that they have thoughts of ending their life it’s important to take action call suicide  at any time or message online at wwwcrisiscentrechatca between noon and am if you think your loved one is in immediate danger you can always call  or go to a hospital emergency room"
i’m a young person and one of my parents has a mental illness what can i do,"someone else’s illness is not your fault you also can’t control how someone else feels their illness or the things they do or say what you can do is take care of yourself 
 learning more about your parent’s illness can make it a bit easier to understand what they experience on this website you can find easytoread booklets on mental illnesses as well as longer info sheets on many different mental illnesses you can also find information for young people from the centre for addiction and mental health 
 it’s important to take care of yourself too a lot of people have a big mix of feelings when a parent isn’t well you might feel angry embarrassed scared or many other things these feelings and experiences can have a big impact on the way your think about yourself and other people when you’re on an airplane and the flight attendants go through the safety demonstration they tell you to put your own oxygen mask on before your help other people that’s because it’s hard to help someone else if you aren’t well yourself here are some programs specifically for young people 
 kids in control support group program from the bc schizophrenia society helps children and youth ages  understand mental illnesses cope with challenges and take care of their own health and wellbeing if kids in control is not currently available at your local branch your branch can order materials so you can work through them on your own 
 super saturday club from cmha vancouverfraser is a free recreation group for children and youth ages  who have a parent that experiences a mental illness to learn more visit wwwvancouverfrasercmhabcca 
 if you’re having trouble coping with something going on at home ask for some help here are some places you can go 
 a teacher or counsellor at school 
 an adult you trust like a friend’s parent or another family member 
 kids help phone visit wwwkidshelpphoneca to learn about taking care of yourself and chat with a counsellor or call  to talk with a counsellor 
 youthinbc visit wwwyouthinbccom to chat with a trained volunteer noonam pacific time 
 bc mental health support line if you ever need to talk to someone or you’d like to see what kind of resources are in your community call  no area code at any time"
i have thoughts of suicide or someone i care about is talking about suicide what should i do,"if you need to talk to someone or you aren’t sure how to help someone you care about call suicide  at any time or type your concern using live chat like texting online at wwwcrisiscentrechatca between noon and am they can help you and they can suggest good local resources if you’re at risk of harm or think someone else is in danger and you need help right now call  
 it’s scary to have thoughts of suicide or hear that someone you can care about has thoughts of suicide thoughts of suicide don’t mean that someone will end their life but it’s a sign that they need extra help or support if you have thoughts of suicide it’s important to talk with your doctor or mental health service provider if you’re supporting someone else encourage them to seek help 
 coping with suicidal thoughts is a good resource to help you understand and manage difficult feelings 
 our info sheet on suicide has information on suicide helping someone else and finding help what is suicide is a booklet with audio in plain language for lower literacy readers 
 the centre for suicide prevention has many resource toolkits on suicide for different audiences including people serving in the military young people teens older adults aboriginal community members and lgbt community members"
cannabis is legally allowed to  but there are doctor groups saying it’s potentially harmful to age  any use or certain use what’s myth and what’s fact if i’m a parent what should i tell my young adult,"using cannabis has the potential for benefits and harms young people use cannabis like other psychoactive drugs to feel good to feel better to do better or to explore trying cannabis out of curiosity as an experiment or while socializing with friends is related to moderate use and lower potential for harm using cannabis to cope with daily life deal with unpleasant feelings or fit in with a social group has higher potential for harm this is because dealing with these kinds of issues is associated with frequent and heavier use less thought about potential harms and little consideration of alternatives for coping such as talking with a parent or trusted adult or physical activity with friends 
 evidence suggests that the younger a person is when they start using cannabis and the more often they use the greater the potential for harms the legal age to use cannabis in bc is  however our brains do not finish developing until about age  delaying cannabis use until early adulthood may reduce potential harmful effects on the brain 
 some young people especially those with many factors predisposing them to serious and persistent mental health issues should probably not use cannabis cannabis has been associated with an increased risk for psychosis and schizophrenia in this small group of people some people with serious mental health issues have also reported that using cannabis has helped them cope with their illness by helping them feel less anxious or stressed as in most situations balancing potential benefits and harms of using cannabis will be key for young people who have serious mental health concerns 
 mixing drugs such as cannabis and alcohol can also increase the possibility of experiencing harms intoxication may be more intense and long lasting and the young person may not appreciate how impaired they are we often suggest “not too much not too often and only in a safe context” as a simple way to gauge your use of any psychoactive substance 
 as a parent or caring adult an open respectful relationship with a young person is one of your best resources and ways to prevent harms from substance use letting the youth know they can approach you at any time to talk about cannabis other substances or anything else of concern to them says they matter to you and you are ready to listen and engage in dialogue with them this is a great place to begin addressing anything that might come the young person’s way in life 
 the canadian institute for substance use research formerly carbc is a member of the bc partners for mental health and addictions information the institute is dedicated to the study of substance use in support of communitywide efforts aimed at providing all people with access to healthier lives whether using substances or not for more visit wwwcisurca"
whats the difference between mental health and mental illness,"‘mental health’ and ‘mental illness’ are increasingly being used as if they mean the same thing but they do not everyone has mental health just like everyone has health as the world health organization famously says “there is no health without mental health” in the course of a lifetime not all people will experience a mental illness but everyone will struggle or have a challenge with their mental wellbeing ie their mental health just like we all have challenges with our physical wellbeing from time to time 
 when we talk about mental health we’re talking about our mental wellbeing our emotions our thoughts and feelings our ability to solve problems and overcome difficulties our social connections and our understanding of the world around us 
 a mental illness is an illness the affects that way people think feel behave or interact with others there are many different mental illnesses and they have different symptoms that impact peoples’ lives in different ways 
 health isn’t like an onoff switch there are different degrees of health people move on a continuum ranging from great or good health to soso health to poor health to illness or disability for example some people have good health and have no problems going about their lives some people experience serious health problems and their poor health has a very negative impact on their life some people have serious health problems that last for a long time and others have serious health problems that resolve very quickly many people fall somewhere in the middle—they’re generally in good health though the occasional problem may come up mental health is the same way 
 just as someone who feels unwell may not have a serious illness people may have poor mental health without a mental illness we all have days where we feel a bit down or stressed out or overwhelmed by something that’s happening in our lives an important part of good mental health is the ability to look at problems or concerns realistically good mental health isn’t about feeling happy and confident  of time and ignoring any problems it’s about living and coping well despite problems 
 just as it’s possible to have poor mental health but no mental illness it’s entirely possible to have good mental health even with a diagnosis of a mental illness that’s because mental illnesses like other health problems are often episodic meaning there are times ‘episodes’ of ill health and times of better or good health 
 with the right supports and tools anyone can live well—however they define well—and find meaning contribute to their communities and work towards their goals"
where can i find more information about depression,"our info sheets on mood disorders bipolar disorder and depression offer information on mood problems treatment options and resources in bc we also offer what is depression it’s a booklet with audio in plain language for lower literacy readers you can take a screening selftest for depression and other mental health concerns the adult depression tool also screens for signs of bipolar disorder 
 if you want to go beyond the basics our managing depression series can help you deal with a diagnosis of depression work with doctor and prevent relapse of depression you’ll also find many experiences and perspectives around depression—reading personal stories can help you feel less alone"
what’s the difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder,"anxiety is a normal reaction to many different kinds of events and situations in our lives anxiety is one of our internal warning systems that alerts us to danger or other threats and prepares our bodies to fight back or get out of a dangerous situation scientists call this the ‘fight flight or freeze’ response 
 a manageable amount of anxiety from time to time can be helpful for example it can motivate you to prepare for a test a school or finish a task at work even happy events like moving to a new home or celebrating an important milestone can bring up anxiety—all of this is just part of being human 
 anxiety is a problem when it becomes overwhelming or unmanageable and it comes up unexpectedly anxiety disorders are mental illnesses that have a big impact your life people may avoid going about their daily lives in order to avoid anxiety they may experience a lot of uncomfortable physical sensations and physical health problems many people say that they know their anxiety isn’t based in reality but they feel ‘trapped’ by their thought and feelings anxiety disorders can be treated it’s important to seek help if you’re concerned about anxiety in your life 
 normal anxiety 
 is related to a specific situation or problem 
 lasts only as long as the situation or problemp 
 is proportional to the situation or problemp 
 is a realistic response to a realistic problem or situationp 
 when someone experiences an anxiety disorder 
 anxiety may come up unexpectedly for seemingly no reason 
 the anxiety response to a situation or problem may be much stronger that they would expect 
 they may experience a lot of unrealistic anxiety such as fear of a situation that likely will never happen 
 anxiety may last for a long time even when the situation or problem has been resolved 
 anxiety may feel impossible to control or manage 
 they may avoid situations or things that they believe to trigger anxiety symptoms 
 here’s an example of normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder many people are a bit nervous about flying which is a totally normal reaction yet if they have to travel for work they can can get on a plane without any problems someone with an anxiety disorder on the other hand may not be able to travel to the airport—even if it puts their job in jeopardy 
 formerly classified as an anxiety disorder and currently classified as trauma and stressorrelated disorders 
 formerly classified as an anxiety disorder and currently classified as obsessivecompulsive and related disorders"
whats the difference between anxiety and stress,"stress and anxiety are often used interchangeably and there is overlap between stress and anxiety stress is related to the same ‘fight flight or freeze’ response as anxiety and the physical sensations of anxiety and stress may be very similar 
 the cause of stress and anxiety are usually different however stress focuses on mainly external pressures on us that we’re finding hard to cope with when we are stressed we usually know what we’re stressed about and the symptoms of stress typically disappear after the stressful situation is over 
 anxiety on the other hand isn’t always as easy to figure out anxiety focuses on worries or fears about things that could threaten us as well as anxiety about the anxiety itself stress and anxiety are both part of being human but both can be problems if they last for a long time or have an impact on our wellbeing or daily life"
whats the difference between sadness and depression,"sadness is a normal reaction to a loss disappointment problems or other difficult situations feeling sad from time to time is just another part of being human in these cases feelings of sadness go away quickly and you can go about your daily life 
 other ways to talk about sadness might be ‘feeling low’ ‘feeling down’ or ‘feeling blue’ a person may say they are feeling ‘depressed’ but if it goes away on its own and doesn’t impact life in a big way it probably isn’t the illness of depression 
 depression is a mental illness that affects your mood the way you understand yourself and the way you understand and relate to things around you it can also go by different names such as clinical depression major depressive disorder or major depression depression can come up for no reason and it lasts for a long time it’s much more than sadness or low mood people who experience depression may feel worthless or hopeless they may feel unreasonable guilty some people may experience depression as anger or irritability it may be hard to concentrate or make decisions most people lose interest in things that they used to enjoy and may isolate themselves from others there are also physical signs of depression such as problems with sleep appetite and energy and unexplainable aches or pains some may experience difficult thoughts about death or ending their life suicide depression lasts longer than two weeks doesn’t usually go away on its own and impacts your life it’s a real illness and it is very treatable it’s important to seek help if you’re concerned about depression"
what is dysthymia or persistent depressive disorder,"dysthymia now called persistent depressive disorder or pdd is a mood disorder it is related depression major depressive disorder the difference between the two is in the number of symptoms and the amount of time that they last someone diagnosed with pdd would experience two to four of the symptoms below for at least two years with no periods of wellness during that time while someone diagnosed with major depressive disorder would experience five or more of the symptoms below for at least two weeks 
 symptoms of pdd include 
 there is a myth that pdd is not as severe an illness as major depressive disorder but research shows that the disability of the illness like the ability to work productively and enjoy hobbies may be as severe in pdd as it is in major depressive disorder as pdd involves a smaller number of symptoms that last for a very long time many people begin to assume pdd is just part of their personality rather than an illness that can be effectively treated so you should most certainly talk to a doctor or mental health professional if you think you might have pdd"
what is cyclothymic disorder,"cyclothymic disorder is a subtype of bipolar disorder much like bipolar disorder the symptoms of cyclothymia include three or more symptoms of hypomania and five or more symptoms of depression like bipolar disorder people may experience wellness between episodes of hypomania and depression 
 symptoms of hypomania include 
 symptoms of depression include 
 talk to a doctor or mental health professional if you think you might have cyclothymic disorder"
what does rapid cycling mean,"rapid cycling means that someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder or depression experiences four or more episodes of depression andor mania in one year 
 rapid cycling can happen any time someone experiences bipolar disorder—about  of people diagnosed with bipolar disorder experience rapid cycling at some point in many cases rapid cycling eventually goes away on its own and people return to a pattern of longer and less frequent episodes"
where can i find information and help for borderline personality disorder,"borderline personality disorder or bpd is a treatable illness it’s made up of five groups of symptoms around behaviours emotions relationships sense of identity and awareness you can read our info sheet on borderline personality disorder we also have an entire issue of visions journal on bpd where you’ll find information on treatments and support and personal stories from people who are managing bpd and living well 
 the borderline personality disorder society of bc offers a support group in victoria and a resource library and they have a listing of services in bc 
 in vancouver the dbt centre of vancouver offer dialectical behaviour therapy dbt ad specializes in helping people who experience bpd the offer individual group and family counselling and they have a useful blog on dbt skills 
 there are several good helpful books available now including"
what is schizoid personality disorder,"a personality disorder is a pattern of thoughts feelings and behaviours that last for a long time and causes some sort of problem or distress 
 schizoid personality disorder or spd affects social interactions and relationships people with spd may have a hard time relating to others and showing emotions they may avoid close relationships and prefer to spend their time alone seeming distant even to close family members many people don’t respond to strong emotions like anger even when others try to provoke them on the outside people with spd may seem cold or aloof showing little emotion 
 while they have a similar name schizoid personality disorder isn’t the same as schizophrenia 
 schizoid personality disorder is believed to be relatively uncommon while some people with spd may see it as part of who they are other people may feel a lot of distress especially around social interactions some medications may help people manage symptoms and psychotherapy may help people build new skills and improve relationships 
 to find help for schizoid personality disorder talk to your family doctor find a psychologist through the bc psychological association or call  to talk to a healthlink bc navigator"
what is antisocial personality disorder,"a personality disorder is a pattern of thoughts feelings and behaviours that last for a long time and causes some sort of problem or distress 
 antisocial personality disorder or aspd affects the way people think about the rights of others someone with aspd may disregard laws or expectations lack remorse when they hurt others or break the law make reckless decisions and believe they are superior to others people may see someone with aspd as overly dramatic impulsive manipulative and deceitful some people may appear charming at least on the surface like all mental illnesses antisocial personality disorder is a spectrum some people may only occasionally act out while others may break the law often and spend a lot of time in the criminal justice system 
 aspd is only diagnosed in adults but people with aspd start to have problems with conduct or antisocial behaviours at a young age they may be diagnosed with conduct disorder during childhood 
 treatment for antisocial personality disorder usually psychotherapy can help reduce the harms of aspd and help people build empathy towards others aspd is treatable and it may improve as a person approaches middle age 
 all of us have hurt someone else or acted without thinking of others needed it’s important to remember that antisocial personality disorder is an enduring pattern around lack of empathy and lack of remorse only a doctor or mental health professional can diagnose illnesses like aspd 
 to find help for antisocial personality disorder talk to your family doctor find a psychologist through the bc psychological association or call  to talk to a healthlink bc navigator"
what is obsessivecompulsive personality disorder,"a personality disorder is a pattern of thoughts feelings and behaviours that last for a long time and causes some sort of problem or distress 
 obsessivecompulsive personality disorder or ocpd is about control people with ocpd have very inflexible thinking and expect everything to be ordered perfect and done their correct way this happens at the expense of other important things in life including relationships with others work can take priority over every other part of life too and people with ocpd may seem excessively dedicated but may be unable to complete tasks due to perfectionism they may struggle to delegate and may distrust other people’s contributions people with ocpd may not tolerate uncertainty and may have a very rigid understanding of the world—something is either right or wrong they may also have a hard time spending money on themselves or others and they may experience hoarding the inability to throw away items from their homes the conflict between the desire for neatness or order and the inability to throw things out may cause a lot of anxiety 
 while obsessivecompulsive personality disorder and obsessivecompulsive disorder ocd have a similar name they are not the same illness people with obsessivecompulsive disorder usually understand that their obsessions and compulsions are illogical and usually experience a lot of distress even though they may not be able to stop obsessions or compulsions compulsions are an attempt to reduce anxiety not to find pleasure people with obsessivecompulsive personality disorder may view their thoughts as part of who they are see their thoughts as logical and may find pleasure or benefit in completing compulsive tasks they may experience a lot of distress when they can’t achieve control or the perfectionism they want 
 obsessivecompulsive personality disorder is one of the most common personality disorders treatment may include some combination of psychotherapy medication and selfhelp strategies to find help for ocpd talk to your family doctor find a psychologist through the bc psychological association or call  to talk to a healthlink bc navigator"
what is bingeeating disorder,"bingeeating disorder or bed is a type of eating disorder it involves episodes of eating a lot of food in a short amount of time past the point of feeling full and feelings of being out of control or unable to stop eating people who experience bingeeating disorder may binge even when they don’t feel hungry they may feel temporarily comforted by food and then feel depressed upset guilty or ashamed of their eating as a result many people try to keep bingeeating symptoms a secret you can’t tell if someone experiences bingeeating disorder just from the way they look or the way they eat around others 
 while a lot of people have the experience of eating too much a few times and feeling uncomfortable after people who experience bingeeating disorder experience many binges for a long period of time 
 bingeeating disorder is treatable talk to your doctor or a mental health professional if you think you might have bingeeating disorder"
what’s the difference between dissociative identity disorder multiple personality disorder and schizophrenia,"sometimes people confuse dissociative identity disorder formerly known as multiple personality disorder and schizophrenia schizophrenia does mean “split mind” but the name was meant to describe the ‘split’ from reality that you experience during an episode of psychosis as well as changes in thoughts emotions and other functions dissociative identity disorder on the other hand does cause a split or fragmented understanding of a person’s sense of themselves 
 dissociative identity disorder is really more about fragmented identities than many different personalities that develop on their own most people see different parts of their being as part of the whole person for people who experience did identity fragments may have very different characteristics including their own history identity and mannerisms a key part of did is dissociation—feeling detached to the world around you people who experience did may have many unexplainable gaps in their memory forget information they’re already learned or have difficulties recalling things they’ve said or done unlike portrayals of did on tv or in movies did may not be obvious to others and it can take a lot of time to come to the diagnosis 
 schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that causes hallucinations sensations that aren’t real and delusions beliefs that can’t possibly be true in addition to other symptoms like jumbled thoughts jumbled speech and difficulties expressing emotions people who experience schizophrenia may hear or feel things that aren’t real or believe things that can’t be real but these aren’t separate identities"
whats the difference between psychosis and schizophrenia,"psychosis is a syndrome or group of symptoms someone experiencing an episode of psychosis is having a ‘break’ with reality major symptoms of psychosis are hallucinations and delusions hallucinations are sensations that are not real such as hearing voices or sounds that aren’t real hearing voices is a common hallucination but hallucinations can be experiences with any sense—hearing sight smell taste or touch delusions are strong beliefs that can’t possibly be true common delusions include the belief that someone is following or monitoring you or the belief that you have extraordinary powers or abilities other symptoms of psychosis include difficulties concentrating completing tasks or making decisions thoughts may feel ‘jumbled’ or confused some people have a hard time following conversations or speaking clearly psychosis can even affect the way people move or express their emotions 
 schizophrenia is a mental illness that causes psychosis but schizophrenia also has other symptoms and it isn’t the only cause of psychosis in some cases other mental illnesses cause psychosis including depression bipolar disorder dementia and borderline personality disorder psychosis may come up during times of extreme stress a major lack of sleep or trauma people who are using or withdrawing from certain drugs or medications may experience psychosis psychosis may also be caused by a brain injury neurological problem or other health problem so while psychosis can be a part of schizophrenia it can be caused by many other things too 
 psychosis and schizophrenia are treatable it’s important to seek help as soon as possible"
what are positive and negative symptoms,"positive and negative symptoms are medical terms for two groups of symptoms in schizophrenia 
 positive symptoms add positive symptoms include hallucinations sensations that aren’t real delusions beliefs that can’t be real and repetitive movements that are hard to control 
 negative symptoms take away negative symptoms include the inability to show emotions apathy difficulties talking and withdrawing from social situations and relationships 
 there is also a third group of symptoms usually called cognitive symptoms this includes anything related to thinking such as disorganized thoughts memory problems and difficulties with focus and attention"
what is a prodrome,"prodrome is a medical term for early signs or symptoms of an illness or health problem that appear before the major signs or symptoms start 
 psychosis a group of symptoms found in disorders like schizophrenia is one illness with a specific prodrome with psychosis prodrome signs and symptoms start before full symptoms like hallucinations and delusions appear 
 common symptoms in the prodrome of psychosis include 
 these symptoms are found in many other mental illnesses so it isn’t always clear at the time if this is a prodrome of psychosis or schizophrenia or something else it’s best to seek help whenever you are concerned about your mental health or a loved one’s mental health psychosis and schizophrenia are much easier to manage and treat when treatment starts early"
i’m an adult and i think i might have adhd what can i do next,"while we think of attentiondeficithyperactivity disorder as an illness that affects children it can last into adulthood—and some people aren’t diagnosed until much later in life 
 adhd is diagnosed like any other mental illness so your family doctor is a good place to start your family doctor may be able to assess your mental health and start treatment if needed or they may refer you to more specialized mental health services 
 there are a few organizations that can help you find good resources and find some support 
 the canadian attention deficit hyperactivity disorder resource alliance caddra is an organization that supports health professionals who research adhd treat and support people diagnosed with adhd and trains professionals in the ‘public info’ section of their website you’ll find more information on adult adhd and the assessment process you’ll also find extensive resources and recommended publications 
 the centre for adhd awareness canada provides education and advocacy for canadians who experience adhd they have a section on their website for adults including information on symptoms and assessments treatments adhd in the workplace resources and a reading list 
 chadd vancouver offers a monthly support group for adults in the vancouver area"
what’s the difference between substance use and addiction,"people tend to use the word “addiction” to mean very different things “i am addicted to shopping” might mean only that the speaker likes to shop on the other hand “he is addicted” might mean the speaker thinks the other person is completely unable to control his own behaviour when people use the word about psychoactive mindaltering substances like alcohol tobacco or other drugs they often assume these drugs are dangerous and have the power to control human behaviour 
 the evidence however suggests a quite different picture while substance use can clearly contribute to health and social problems substances can be beneficial for some people in some situations many people celebrate a special occasion with a nice glass of wine for example some people use tobacco as a powerful symbol in cultural and spiritual ceremonies in fact substances have been used by humans throughout history for many reasons to feel good to feel better to improve performance for culturalspiritual reasons and to have new experiences 
 substance use is more complicated than just “good” or “bad” it’s helpful to think of substance use along a continuum from beneficial use to harmful use along the middle of the continuum substance use may be both beneficial and harmful you have an enjoyable night out with friends but feel a little ill the next day at the far end of the continuum some people develop dependence—they need to continually use the drug in order to feel normal and will keep using even when that leads to financial difficulties problems at home or at work health problems or legal problems 
 in general substance use is a problem when it causes problems for you or others—and how much use causes problems will be different for different people in different situations the reason a person uses a substance influences the risk of developing problems for instance if a person uses a substance to have fun only occasional social use may follow but when a person uses a substance to cope with a longterm problem such as social anxiety then more long lasting and intense use may follow managing our risk involves being aware of why we are using and what impacts our use is having on ourselves and those around us the wisdom of our ancestors suggests a guiding principle—not too much not too often and only in safe contexts"
how can i find help for an alcohol or drug use problem,"seeking to make changes in the way you use substances like alcohol or other drugs this can be an important step 
 some people are able to reduce their substance use or quit altogether on their own or with selfhelp materials but most of us need support from other people—family members friends health professionals or other people struggling with substance use problems the right help for you depends on many factors these include the type of drug you are using how much and how often your health and social situation and of course your own preferences getting help doesn’t mean giving up control of shaping your own path you are still the one who makes the final decisions about the type and degree of change you make 
 one way to get help is to talk to a doctor you trust and feel comfortable confiding in if you aren’t comfortable talking in person you can also get advice from a registered nurse along with advice on programs or services in your area by calling healthlink bc at  since some drugs are illegal many people worry about what might happen if they talk about drug use it’s important to know that in most cases doctors have to protect your privacy—it’s the law 
 in bc the alcohol and drug information referral service can help you find information on treatment options support groups and other resources throughout the province it’s free confidential and available  call the alcohol and drug information referral service at  or  in the lower mainland"
how do i know if im drinking too much,"sorting out if you are drinking too much can be complicated you are unique and your relationship with alcohol is unique no one has the same combination of life experiences and influences that you do so even though you and your friend may choose to drink how and why you use alcohol may be different 
 those of us who drink seek benefits from alcohol not difficulties but sometimes we start using more and more often than makes sense as a general rule drinking alcohol becomes a problem when it negatively affects our life or the lives of others many people imagine this refers to people who consume alcohol “all day every day” but even drinking too much on a single occasion can lead to a problem for instance making a poor decision such as driving while impaired 
 what’s also important to recognize is the potential for negative consequences related to drinking in various contexts ie places times and activities and over time eg coping with chronic problems you can get personalized feedback related to your pattern of drinking as compared to canada’s lowrisk alcohol drinking guidelines via the alcohol reality check screening app this short simple screen can be used by people of all ages 
 all alcohol use involves some risk the reasons people use alcohol can influence their risk of developing problems for instance if a person uses alcohol to enhance special celebrations only occasional social use may follow but when a person drinks to cope with a longterm problem such as social anxiety then more long lasting and intense use may follow 
 by reflecting on your pattern of drinking you can manage your risk for immediate injury or death your chances for longterm health consequences such as cancer or heart disease and your risk of developing habitual patterns of drinking that may lead to these harms 
 whenever you decide to drink alcohol it is helpful to know what steps you can take to ensure that your drinking behaviour is the most rewarding and least harmful possible the following are some useful guidelines to consider 
 not too much managing how much you drink on a given occasion helps decrease risky behaviours 
 tip drink slowly and alternate between nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages 
 not too often drinking in moderation helps to reduce harms to ourselves and others over time 
 tip keep less alcohol at home and set limits on how much you are going to drink each week avoiding drinking on some days 
 only in safe contexts making informed decisions about where you drink helps to minimize alcoholrelated harm 
 tip if going to a bar stay with a group and choose an establishment that is well lit and near safe transportation options 
 for information on treatment options and resources throughout bc call the alcohol and drug information referral service at  in greater vancouver call  
 to better understand how substances play a role in your life visit the you and substance use workbook on the heretohelp website 
 the canadian institute for substance use research formerly carbc is a member of the bc partners for mental health and addictions information the institute is dedicated to the study of substance use in support of communitywide efforts aimed at providing all people with access to healthier lives whether using substances or not for more visit wwwcisurca"
if cannabis is dangerous why are we legalizing it,"cannabis smoke for example contains cancercausing toxins however the risk of developing some cancers eg mouth tongue and lung is less for cannabis smokers than tobacco smokers partly because they tend to smoke less than tobacco users and while all drugs have an effect on the brain the particular properties of the drug influence the level of risk of harmful consequences the negative effects of cannabis on the brain for example seem to be less than the effects of some substances such as alcohol 
 legalizing cannabis provides an opportunity to put in place regulations to minimize potential harms the danger of buying and using any illegal drug is that we can never know for sure what exactly is in it cannabis is legal in canada as of october   adults over age  in bc are now permitted to possess up to  grams of cannabis in public cannabis is regulated by the province of british columbia and will be sold through the liquor distribution branch cannabis will be tested for quality 
 when drugs are produced and obtained inside a regulated system it is possible for us to know about the contents and dosage of what we are taking this helps us manage the risks however it is likely that cannabis will still be available outside the government system it is important to know that the quality of cannabis obtained from a dealer or a friend is unknown and may contain contaminants like mold mildew or fillers that may be toxic 
 the legalization of cannabis also provides us with openings to engage in honest and thoughtful discussions about drug use with our families and communities when dealing with complex issues like cannabis policy no one has all the answers but as community members we all have thoughts feelings and experiences around drugs and drug use to share with each other engaging together to explore and share ideas will help us discover how to manage use as individuals and communities in ways that maximize benefit and minimize harm 
 the canadian institute for substance use research formerly carbc is a member of the bc partners for mental health and addictions information the institute is dedicated to the study of substance use in support of communitywide efforts aimed at providing all people with access to healthier lives whether using substances or not for more visit wwwcisurca"
how can i convince my kids not to use drugs,"you cant but you can influence their capacity to make good choices in a world where alcohol and other drugs are available its about helping your child develop the skills to assess what might be helpful in achieving their goals in life its also about nourishing a supportive relationship so they know where to go with questions or problems 
 opening up a discussion about drugs can help strengthen your relationship with your child inviting and allowing open honest conversation about drugs or any other subject makes your child know that what they are thinking feeling and experiencing matters to you the goal is to get your child talking and sharing their thoughts and feelings 
 when young people are asked thoughtful openended questions exploring what they think it helps them become interested in their own thoughts and behaviour this process of selfreflection is part of developing critical thinking skills a part of good decisionmaking critical thinking skills are actually an essential part of reducing the risks related to using drugs once young people have considered something carefully they are a lot less likely to act out of impulse or in response to influence 
 there is no rule about how or where a conversation about alcohol or other drugs should start even young children know drugs are a part of our culture they see people drinking around them and are exposed to drugs on tv and in advertising this makes it a subject that can be brought up naturally while getting ready for a family celebration where alcohol will be present or if you are planning to visit a relative who uses tobacco or while swapping stories at the dinner table about what happened at work and school that day 
 talking with teens and young adults about drugs as they make choices on the path into adulthood helps them to develop personal standards minimize risks and critically assess popular beliefs about drug use this can be particularly important as they transition to the legal age for using alcohol or cannabis and move out of the family home while young adults have more independence and more legal rights parents can continue to be an important sounding board on which to try out their thoughts and ideas 
 the canadian institute for substance use research formerly carbc is a member of the bc partners for mental health and addictions information the institute is dedicated to the study of substance use in support of communitywide efforts aimed at providing all people with access to healthier lives whether using substances or not for more visit wwwcisurca"
what is the legal status and evidence of cbd oil,"cannabidiol or cbd is a naturally occurring component of cannabis it is extracted from the cannabis plant and often made into an oil for use cbd is not psychoactive and does not produce the ‘high’ of thc tetrahyrocannabinol the primary psychoactive component of cannabis cbd is legal in canada and has been used in the treatment of various medical conditions 
 all cannabinoids including cbd produce effects in the body by attaching to certain receptors in the brain or immune system the human body also produces its own cannabinoids it seems that cbd does not attach directly to receptors instead it directs the body to use more of its own cannabinoids to produce the therapeutic effects associated with cbd 
 research suggests that cbd may provide relief for chronic pain sativex is a proprietary medication that combines thc and cbd and may be prescribed for the relief of pain associated with multiple sclerosis there is also some evidence suggesting that cbd may be a promising support for people with opioid use disorders the researchers noted that cbd reduced some symptoms associated with substance use disorders including anxiety moodrelated symptoms pain and insomnia 
 after researching the safety and effectiveness of cbd oil for treating epilepsy in  the united states fda approved cbd epidiolex as a therapy for two rare conditions characterized by epileptic seizures other evidence suggests that cbd may be useful in the treatment of schizophrenia though further research is needed before introducing cbd into medical practice 
 there is some initial evidence that cbd may help people in the early stages of alzheimers disease keep the ability to recognize the faces of people that they know and thus slow progression of the illness again more research is needed in this area 
 because of the way cannabis and its products are metabolized scientists believe there is a potential for interaction with other drugs although nothing significant has yet been recorded cbd has been found to be generally safe reports from patients indicate that negative drug interactions are not common as with any other treatment it is important to monitor your use of cbd and seek assistance if you experience any problems or have questions or concerns about its use 
 the canadian institute for substance use research formerly carbc is a member of the bc partners for mental health and addictions information the institute is dedicated to the study of substance use in support of communitywide efforts aimed at providing all people with access to healthier lives whether using substances or not for more visit wwwcisurca"
what is the evidence on vaping,"vaping is the term for using a device where liquids often flavoured are turned into vapour hence vaping and inhaled a vaping device consists of a mouthpiece tank or reservoir to hold the liquid a heating element and a battery to power the element the liquid is heated to become a mist inhaled through the mouth into the lungs where the nicotine or cannabis enters the bloodstream any residual vapour is exhaled vaping devices come in several types shapes and sizes referred to as ecigarettes vape pens vapes mods tanks or ehookahs vaping liquid eliquid ejuice consists of a solvent usually propylene glycol or glycerol flavour and nicotine or cannabis though it may not contain anything in british columbia you must be  years old to buy vaping products 
 the number of young people who smoke cigarettes has declined over the past few years while vaping has increased ecigarettes were developed as an alternative to smoking the first devices were available in  and looked much like a traditional cigarette nicotine vapour contains significantly fewer toxins and other particles than smoke from cigarettes vaping is a less harmful alternative to cigarettes and evidence suggests it may help some people quit smoking evidence suggests vaping is likely not a gateway to smoking tobacco 
 though less harmful than smoking cigarettes vaping still carries potential harms there is a small exposure to nicotine and possible carcinogens in the vapour a carcinogen is a substance that has the potential to cause cancer some evidence suggests that young people may be unaware the vaping liquid often contains nicotine ecigarettes are not controlled and the nicotine content of vaping liquids varies significantly among brands other chemicals flavourings and heavy metals present in vaping liquids have not as yet been well studied longterm health risks from vaping are thus undetermined more research is needed in these areas 
 marketing strategies for vaping products often on social media are designed to appeal to young people the range of flavours available especially those that are fruity and sweet and the look and feel of vaping devices attract youth young people can see vaping as fun and a way to socialize with friends and smoke in a less harmful way 
 making the time and space for discussion and exploring the issues around vaping is one important way we can support young people and indeed each other in making good decisions about if when or how much to vape we offer not too much not too often and in a safe context as one way to think about using any substance what this means to you may be a place for talking to start 
 the canadian institute for substance use research formerly carbc is a member of the bc partners for mental health and addictions information the institute is dedicated to the study of substance use in support of communitywide efforts aimed at providing all people with access to healthier lives whether using substances or not for more visit wwwcisurca"
what are the common signs of depression,depression is characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness loss of interest in daily activities and a range of emotional and physical problems common signs include feelings of hopelessness fatigue irritability changes in appetite or weight difficulty concentrating and even physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach issues
how can i cope with anxiety on a daily basis,coping with anxiety can be challenging but strategies include practicing mindfulness staying physically active relaxation techniques and cognitivebehavioral therapy cbt
what is cognitivebehavioral therapy cbt and how does it help,cbt is a form of talk therapy that focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors it helps manage anxiety depression and other conditions
what are some relaxation techniques that can help with stress management,relaxation techniques for stress management include deep breathing exercises progressive muscle relaxation meditation yoga and guided imagery
how can i support a loved one who is struggling with mental health issues,support involves being compassionate patient nonjudgmental and encouraging professional help like therapy educate yourself on their condition and offer a listening ear
how does sleep affect mental health,sleep and mental health are interconnected poor sleep can worsen anxiety depression and stress while a good nights sleep promotes emotional resilience and mood regulation
what are panic attacks and how can i manage them,panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear with symptoms like heart palpitations shortness of breath and a feeling of doom managing panic attacks involves recognizing the symptoms and practicing breathing techniques
what is the difference between stress and anxiety,stress is usually a response to an external cause and subsides once resolved while anxiety is an internal response with persistent excessive worry that may require professional treatment
can diet and nutrition impact mental health,a balanced diet rich in vitamins minerals and essential nutrients supports brain function omegas and antioxidants are particularly beneficial for mental wellbeing
how do i know if i need professional help for my mental health,seek professional help if you feel overwhelmed by negative emotions struggle to function daily or experience persistent mental health symptoms like sadness worry or withdrawal
what are the benefits of practicing mindfulness for mental health,mindfulness promotes nonjudgmental awareness of thoughts and emotions reducing stress anxiety and depression while improving emotional regulation and focus
what is burnout and how can i prevent it,burnout is emotional mental and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress prevent burnout by prioritizing selfcare setting boundaries and taking regular breaks
can exercise improve my mental health,exercise releases endorphins reducing stress and promoting happiness regular physical activity can improve sleep boost selfesteem and alleviate anxiety and depression
how can journaling help with managing emotions,journaling provides a therapeutic outlet for expressing feelings and processing experiences it helps reduce stress clarify problems and improve emotional awareness
how does social media affect mental health,social media can have both positive and negative effects it can lead to feelings of inadequacy and loneliness so its important to balance screen time and content
what are the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder ptsd,ptsd symptoms include flashbacks nightmares severe anxiety and avoidance of triggers treatment involves therapy such as cognitivebehavioral therapy cbt
how can breathing exercises help reduce anxiety,breathing exercises like diaphragmatic breathing and  breathing help calm the bodys stress response by slowing heart rate and reducing muscle tension
can a lack of social interaction affect my mental health,humans are social beings and isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness and depression engaging in social activities and supportive relationships is essential for mental health
what is the role of a therapist in managing mental health conditions,a therapist helps manage mental health conditions by providing talk therapy to understand thoughts and behaviors and offering coping strategies for emotional difficulties
how can i manage overwhelming emotions,managing overwhelming emotions involves grounding techniques deep breathing and speaking with a therapist to process intense feelings and regain emotional balance