Posted on 2023-10-01 7:55 AM By ConnexOntario
The dramatic shift to remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a myriad of changes in our lives, including our mental health. The concept of mental health working from home has now become a topic of prominent interest among health professionals, employers, and workers alike. This comprehensive guide delves into the various aspects of remote work and its effects on mental health, offering practical advice for maintaining wellness in the virtual workplace.
Posted on 2023-05-01 8:55 AM By ConnexOntario
Many of us may have experienced or witnessed mental health issues as students, staff or parents. Mental health has always been a topic of discussion amongst educators and students, yet many institutions struggle to provide proper support.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly one in four students worldwide is affected by mental health issues. And these students tend to get worse grades. With this statistic in mind, a number of colleges and universities have begun to create mental health programs aimed at improving students’ mental health and academic performance. One example of such a program is the National Alliance on Mental Illness-funded Mental Health for College Students initiative, which aims to help students with mental health issues improve their overall academic performance.
In the classroom, teachers need to be able to relate to students who are struggling. However, many teachers lack the knowledge, training, or experience in dealing with mental health issues. Here's how ...
Posted on 2023-04-01 8:30 AM By ConnexOntario
Promoting wellness in the workplace is essential to ensure employee engagement, improved productivity, and overall satisfaction. Allowing employees to take care of their physical and mental wellbeing can help them to make the most of their time at work and ultimately, contribute more to the success of the company. With the right strategies, employers can create an environment that encourages employees to stay healthy and engaged. From providing healthy snacks and flexible working hours, to offering mental health resources and ergonomic workstations, there are plenty of ways to support employee wellness. With these tips, employers can create a healthier workplace and promote well-being for their employees.
Benefits of promoting wellness in the workplace
By promoting wellness in the workplace, employers can help their employees to lead healthier, happier lives. A healthier workforce is more engaged and productive, which is essential for the success of any company. When employees take better care of their ...
Posted on 2023-03-08 3:35 PM By ConnexOntario
Depressed people can often feel physically exhausted as if they're dragging around a heavy bag of bricks. It's a problem that's been documented in psychology journals, but this has never been put on display before.
Posted on 2023-02-01 8:30 AM By ConnexOntario
When people suffer from anxiety, they often feel misunderstood and unheard. They wish there were more people out there who were willing to listen and talk to them about it.
We're going to get personal today. We're going to talk about anxiety, the common struggle that affects so many of us. The good news is that you're not alone, you can beat it and I'm going to tell you how to do it. But before we dive into all of that, let's talk about why this topic is so important. I know I sound like your mom but there are literally thousands of people watching right now, maybe tens of thousands, and they're all struggling with some form of anxiety. So much of the time, I feel like anxiety is a part of life that no one talks about and it's really not discussed in school or in the media. But it affects so many of us. There are studies that show over 80% of the population is affected by some form of anxiety and it can affect our ability to function or even our lives.
Here are the Top 3 Thin ...
Posted on 2023-01-14 12:31 AM By ConnexOntario
The Horror and The Cure: Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very real condition that affects as many as 40 million people around the globe. It can make anyone miserable during winter months, especially those living in the northern hemisphere.
Many of us experience at least one kind of depression each year, but the winter months can trigger more severe seasonal mood swings. These episodes of “winter blues” have been linked to a disruption in circadian rhythms, which may play a role in the development of the disorder. It seems that the more severe your seasonal affective disorder (SAD) symptoms are, the more likely you are to develop a case of winter blues during winter months.
I know it can feel overwhelming, but the benefits of a healthy lifestyle (a balanced diet, a good night's sleep, and regular exercise) can make all the difference in treating or preventing seasonal affective disorder.
1. How Common Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal Aff ...
Posted on 2023-01-03 1:29 PM By ConnexOntario
Crisis intervention is a process of providing immediate assistance to someone who is in a state of crisis. It involves providing support, guidance, and resources to the individual to help them manage their crisis.
Crisis intervention is a set of strategies used to address the immediate needs of a person in crisis and to prevent further crisis from occurring. In this article, we will explore how crisis response can help in crisis intervention.
The importance of crisis intervention
Mental health crises are often scary and confusing, but they don’t have to lead to long-term damage. Crisis intervention is the first step in preventing this damage from happening. If a crisis intervention is unable to resolve the situation or the person in crisis has a recurring pattern, the situation may lead to a mental health crisis. If this happens, it often becomes a long-term problem for the person experiencing a crisis.
Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues can become long-term problems if ...
Posted on 2022-06-05 1:00 AM By ConnexOntario
Supportive listening is a technique that enables a person to demonstrate concern during a conversation. Whether it is a client, a friend or even a co-worker, supportive listening has the ability to deepen connections in addition to defusing and clarifying thoughts. It is a skill that can enhance the quality of a relationship. Being heard, understood, and respected builds a foundation for future conversations.
LISTENING
A conversation can start simply enough with one question: can I talk to you?”. But what is really being asked is “will you listen to me?”.
There is a connection that can take place when a person feels safe to share feelings and experiences, and know they’re being heard. A catharsis occurs when two people are engaged in a productive conversation. When done with skill and care, a person in need of a listening ear can leave the conversation feeling like some of the emotional burden is lifted and perhaps the situation will be less overwhelming.
Sometimes it takes ...
Posted on 2022-05-25 1:00 AM By ConnexOntario
Addiction is one of the toughest problems a family can face. Learning that a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs or alcohol can be shocking and sad, and can sometimes cause panic. It’s natural for family members to feel hopeless at times, even frightened or overwhelmed. To “take care of yourself”, is the best advice you can give someone who has a loved one dealing with an addiction. We’ll cover this topic thoroughly, first, however, let’s review the signs of an addiction.
RECOGNIZING A PROBLEM
To say that these are uncertain times is an understatement. Not only are we facing constant economic concerns and high levels of unemployment, but we’re also in the middle of a global pandemic. Consuming drugs and alcohol to cope with such stress is common, that doesn’t, however, make it right. Some common signs that your loved one has a problem include:
Neglecting responsibility at home, work or school.
Binging or consuming more than intended.
Lyin ...
Posted on 2022-05-18 8:40 AM By ConnexOntario
Culture & Stigma: A Barrier to Mental Health Access
Written by Amelia Lomat
Simply put, stigma is the lens that negatively impacts the way we view and think about groups of people or individuals in our life, often leading to social isolation. The word derives from the Greek term that signified a mark of shame usually branded or tattooed on criminals and delinquents to differentiate them from the general population. Stigmas nowadays go beyond physical identifiers. One way, in particular, is the stigmas for those who have a mental illness, which affect the way an individual feels about themselves, their future and their likelihood to reach out for help.
Though mental illness stigma plays a large part in how we look at mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, there has been a shift regarding mental health topics like wellness, anxiety, and depression and their acceptance in mainstream society. However, this isn't the case for all Canadians, especia ...