Mental illness affects one in five Canadians… seven million of our friends, neighbours, colleagues and loved ones will need help for mental health problems this year. Many will not get it because of the stigma attached to the illness or because the resources simply aren’t there to provide help.

Mental illnesses can take many forms, just as physical illnesses do. Mental illnesses are still feared and misunderstood by many people. If you, or someone you know, has a mental illness, there is good news: all mental illnesses can be treated.

Mental illness is common. Studies indicate that in any given year, one in every five Canadian adults under age 65 will have a mental health problem. Mental illnesses account for a large percentage of hospital stays every year. Yet, in spite of the fact that every Canadian knows someone who has been, or will be, affected by mental illness, few people know very much about it.

It is human nature to fear what we don’t understand. Mental illness is feared by many people and, unfortunately, still carries a stigma. Because of this stigma, many people hesitate to get help for a mental health concern. It is unfortunate that this happens because effective treatment exists for almost all mental illnesses.

The myths of mental illness

There are many myths about mental illness. Until people learn the truth, they will continue to deny that mental illness exists at all or to avoid the topic entirely.

How much do you know about mental illness? Here are some of the common myths — and truths.

• People with mental illness are violent and dangerous. The truth is that, as a group, mentally ill people are no more violent than any other group. In fact, they are far more likely to be the victims of violence than to be violent themselves.
• People with mental illness are poor and/or less intelligent. Many studies show that most mentally ill people have average or above-average intelligence. Mental illness, like physical illness, can affect anyone regardless of intelligence, social class or income level.
• Mental illness is caused by a personal weakness. A mental illness is not a character flaw. It is an illness, and it has nothing to do with being weak or lacking will-power. Although people with mental illness can play a big part in their own recovery, they did not choose to become ill, and they are not lazy because they cannot just “snap out of it.”
• Mental illness is a single, rare disorder. Mental illness is not a single disease but a broad classification for many disorders. Anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, personality disorders, eating disorders and organic brain disorders can cause misery, tears and missed opportunities for thousands of Canadians.

Getting help

If you or someone you know develops the symptoms of a mental illness, it is important to get it diagnosed and to start treatment as soon as possible. WCWG offered a free screening for mental health online. A follow-up consultation with the Clinical Director can be scheduled to discuss any mental health concerns.

West Coast Wellness Group is pleased to announce that we are now offering  free online screening for mental health concerns such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Alcohol or drug misuse
• Youth depression
• Disordered eating
• Post Traumatic Stress

This screening is completely anonymous.

To take our screening, simply click on the Mental Health Screening menu. It will take you to the next page where the screening can be done in complete confidence. The results at the end of the screening indicate results based upon your responses and a recommendation may be made for further exploration.  In addition, and depending upon your results, there may be short and helpful articles and fact sheets on your particular results.

If desired, the  individual taking the screening may discuss their results with  with Alan Stamp at WCWG, and if requested, arrange for an Intake for Clinical Counselling with one of  our Registered Therapists.

We at West Coast Wellness Group understand that mental health  affects  most Canadians at some point in their lives, and that seeking guidance can be a very benificial strategy towards achieving greater emotional health and well-being.

So, please take a few minutes and try our screening, and let your family and friends know that this free service is available.

Yours In Good Mental Health,

Alan Stamp,

Director WCWG

In a previous West Coast Wellness Group post, I wrote on the “Eldest Child”.  This time ’round we’ll be looking at some of the features of the last born child.  As in all theory, these descriptions are based on “normal” human development.  When individuals have very different characteristics for their birth order position it generally means that there has been something at work to alter what is deemed to be the natural order of development.  This can include significant loss, financial hardship, drug/alcohol use in the family, death of a family member, political upheaval or anything that would create disruption.

Having said that, here goes!  As a youngest myself, I can certainly attest to many of the descriptors for this position.

Youngest children are unique in that they are never displaced by a newborn.  They are the babies of the family, and in that way, they continue to be babied long into adulthood.  Youngest tend to appear youthful throughout their lives.  (Ronald Regan was a youngest, a rarity for a US President.) Youngest children often receive a lot of attention from family because many feel responsible for taking care of them.  Thus, youngest may be indulged, pampered and spoiled in ways that other children are not.  Having experienced good things from others, youngest children may grow up expecting good things from life and therefore tend to be optimists rather than negative-thinking people.

Parents tend to be rather blase about the youngest after they come along.  After all, they have already done some child-rearing tasks, and may not be as enthusiastic about this child’s accomplishments.  Thus, the youngest has less expectations placed upon them and they tend to achieve less.  Youngest children grow up having others make decisions for them and thus, as adults, have far less confidence about decision-making in early and mid-adult life.  If teased – and youngest tend to be teased a great deal – they may become interested in working for people for whom they perceive as “powerless” in society.  Occupations such as clergy, nurse, social worker, actor, singer and therapist are common professions for youngest children.  The may be less ambitious than other sibling or birth order positions and are less likely to follow family traditions; creative or artistic pursuits can be a large draw for them.

Being the smallest in the family, youngest children quickly learned that being aggressive was ineffective; to get what they wanted youngests found that  employing charm was much more useful.  Another less desirable  but perhaps arguably effective way of obtaining one’s wonts was  pouting to get one’s way.  Either way, it is some manner or   form of manipulation that attemps to get what the person wants.  Later in life the youngest may not need to use manipulative strategies,  but nevertheless youngests tend to continue to be charming in nature.

Because their older sibling seemed to have the hold on the intelligence in areas such as scholarly academics, youngest children try to move in different directions in order to be content on their own terms.  If an eldest child was the honor roll, the youngest may be in the school play or music room or creative writing class.

Youngest children are followers much more than leaders, and will happily follow a leader they respect.  If a youngest finds themself in a leadership role, they are often well-liked, but their authority may not be taken seriously.  In relationships, youngest children may be dependant on their older spouses and then rebel against them or their control.

Youngest children who have been treated well as children tend to be sociable, easy-going and friendly.  If treated poorly as a child, they may be shy and irritable with others.