The real mental health champions are working in our communities
Submitted by Mary Simon on Wednesday, October 8, 2008
You know there are days when the planets are aligned and everything falls into place. Today, with glorious sunshine on an October day I woke up in Montreal to deliver a speech on Climate Change at an international symposium sponsored by Hydro-Quebec. In the audience were scientists from France, Switzerland, Canada, the United States, and many other countries. My message focussed on how climate change is affecting the Arctic and the Inuit NOW, and action must be taken immediately. It was well received.
Later in the day I was pleased to be honoured by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health as a 2008 Mental Health Champion during a ceremony held at the National Gallery in Ottawa. My friend Susan Aglukark was the emcee for the evening. Both of us spoke personally about the importance of improving mental health services for Inuit in the Arctic. I was very pleased to receive this award.
In my brief acceptance speech I said, “In accepting this tribute from you - I must tell you, you are honouring the messenger. I express the views of our Inuit community on mental health issues. The real champions are those who toil every day - trying to improve the mental health of our people. It is no secret to any of you here this evening that mental health is a growing concern and issue in our country and most other countries on the globe. It is also no secret that mental health is a crisis issue in many aboriginal communities across this country - the Arctic and Inuit communities are no exception. In accepting this award - I appeal to you as practitioners and policy makers to ensure you re-double your efforts to assist and partner with us in the Arctic to realize the day when we speak less about the pathologies of mental health and more about the manifestations of truly good mental health. Finally in this election campaign I cannot resist an appeal to all political leaders from all parties to declare what you can do to improve the mental health of your fellow citizens.”
It was a great evening, spent with people who are engaged in an issue that affects many people in Canada, and one that we have identified as the number one health issue in the Arctic.
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blog for mental health
I have only tonight discovered the blog page. I think these messages are being heard I had an oppertunity to sit to a table with provincial ministers on two seperate occasions to discuss and raise awareness of health issues in my community. I felt so happy someone was listening to what we had to say at that level. Mental health along with addictions is a huge issue and the surface is only just beginning to be scratched as there is an upcoming third generation who need much help in all matter of life, with this i see the old taboo topics you werent' meant to talk about growing up in Nain starting to crumble. I see hope that our people will be stonger and know ther is help and a right to speak out.
blog to mental health
Hi Sofie,
Thank you for your message. I am so glad you have a strong interest in mental health and that you had an opportunity to talk to Minister's about your views. It takes a lot of discussion for people to understand the issues we are facing in the Arctic. ITK has made mental health issues a top priority in our work. I am involved in the National Mental Health Commission which is starting to address the stigma of mental illness. It is called the anti-stigma campaign. We need so much more than the few services we have up north. Canada as a country must invest more in the Arctic for basic services. There is such a huge gap between the living conditions in the north versus southern Canada.