Mental Health Week in New Brunswick

A call to be kind and healing through compassion.

That’s the motto used by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) for Mental Health Week.

Christa Baldwin, executive director of the New Brunswick chapter, has been with the organization for 12 years.

Baldwin said the stigma of talking about mental has reduced gradually.

However, she noted the overuse of social media and technology during the pandemic caused a rise in social anxiety and depression.

“We spent the pandemic asking people to be online and be connected with people be in school, through your work, all of those things on technology. I think somewhere along that journey some dependency happened,” said Baldwin.

Baldwin said seniors were also heavily affected by depression during the pandemic lockdowns from the long periods of loneliness.

To help fight mental health, CMHA will host free live Facebook and Zoom meetings and seminars, which include better self-care and ways to exercise.

Baldwin said signs and symptoms of mental health disorders include sleeping problems, weight or appetite changes, and substance abuse.

More details about treatment and programs are found by clicking here.