How can we create a society where mental illness is taken just as seriously as a physical illness?
One of the best ways to accomplish this is to help end the discrimination, stigma, and shame surrounding mental illness by raising awareness. In fact, awareness is one of the most important tools we have in the fight against mental illness.
Back in 1951, when the first ever Mental Health Week began the stigma surrounding mental health was much worse. Many who struggled with mental illness tried to hide their condition or were seen as weak. But now, a recent survey found that 57% of Canadians believe the stigma associated with mental illness has been reduced compared to five years ago and 70% of Canadians believe attitudes about mental health issues have changed for the better compared to five years ago.
And that’s why CMHA Mental Health Week is so important. Held every May for the last 67 years, the Canadian Mental Health Association will host this year’s CMHA Mental Health Week from May 6th to the 12th. Mental Health Week has had an enormous impact on the way that everyday Canadians view mental illness, spreading awareness and understanding.
As the Canadian Mental Health Association writes in their CMHA Mental Health Week fact sheet, “Mental Health Week has been a mental illness awareness week but this year, it goes even deeper. It goes to the very heart of what mental health really is.”
The CMHA was established over 100 years ago and is one of the largest community mental health organizations in Canada. With a presence in every province, their goal is to provide those who have mental illness with resources and support to help them thrive.
Over the course of the week, there will be thousands of events and activities taking place across the country. A significant component of the week is social media based. CMHA wants everyone to #GetLoud about what mental health really is on their social media accounts. By joining the wider conversation online, all of our voices get amplified, spreading our message of the importance of mental health to those who would otherwise not hear it.
At Owl Practice, we support the Canadian Mental Health Association and wholeheartedly believe in the message behind #GetLoud. We try to live up to these ideals every day by offering Canadian mental health professionals the tools they need to manage their practice effectively.
With features such as the Circle of Care system, that allows you to link profiles of family members together to our secure client data management system that protects your patients’ information on our secure Canadian servers, we’ve designed our services with mental health professionals in mind. There are many different kinds of office management software out there, but Owl Practice is the one that’s specifically meant for the field of mental health.
Another free service that we offer is TherapyOwl. One of the biggest obstacles for people to get help is FINDING that help. They know that they need someone to talk to, but they aren’t sure how to find the right therapist or other mental health professional who can help them. That’s what TherapyOwl is for! It’s a free online listing service for Canadian therapists. All someone needs to do is give their location, clinical issue, and client focus, and they will be presented with a list of therapists who can help. You can create a free listing for your practice too, even without signing up for Owl Practice!
If you’d like to see everything, we invite you to sign up for a free demo. And if you have any questions or comments about our services, please contact us at support@owlpractice.ca. And please, don’t forget to #GetLoud on social media about mental health from May 6th to the 12th!
As always,
Practice Wisely
