- In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness.
- By the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, 1 in 2 have–or have had–a mental illness
- Young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group
- About 4,000 Canadians per year die by suicide–an average of almost 11 suicides a day. It affects people of all ages and backgrounds.
The annual economic cost of mental illness in Canada is estimated at over $50 billion per year. This includes healthcare costs, lost productivity, and reductions in health-related quality of life. One of the most important causes of suicide is mental illness–most often Depression, Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression), Schizophrenia, and Substance Use Disorders. More than half of people with mental illness don’t receive help for their disorders. Often, people avoid or delay seeking treatment due to concerns about being treated differently or fears of losing their jobs and livelihood. That’s because of stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against people with mental illness are still very much a problem. Stigma often comes from a lack of understanding or fear. Inaccurate or misleading media representations of mental illness contribute to both of those factors. Other barriers pertain mainlyto costs, not knowing where to get help, excessive wait times, and insufficient funding.
These very barriers have been exposed and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, compounding mental health problems for many as financial and health trauma worsens and access to social support is limited. A silent mental health crisis exists among South Asian communities. Many studies have shown that South Asian immigrants in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom experience high rates of mental health disorders, sometimes higher than their peers. Some of the reasons include intergenerational conflict or the stress of adapting to western society. Children of South Asian immigrants in particular may face challenges associated with the pressure of straddling two different worlds. While trying to fit into a western society that prides itself on individual expression, they may find themselves navigating a culture at home where personal boundaries are blurred, and self-identity is determined by the validation of their family and community. But mental health is deeply stigmatized in many South Asian communities and symptoms are often trivialized. A growing body of evidence is demonstrating how specific community and primary care-based interventions are both effective and cost-effective and there is a significant need for increased community-based mental health promotion programs and early interventions, especially those targeting children and youth.
Our 2019 Charity of Choice-Coast Mental Health Foundation – A Vancouver-based non-profit, Coast Mental Health Foundation raises public awareness and resources to promote recovery and transform the lives of people with mental illness through exceptional and innovative community-based services. Our 2019 fundraiser was organized to raise funds for Coast Mental Health Foundation which directly contributed to increased resources and delivery programs.
Our 2022 Charity of Choice-Moving Forward Family Services – Public services are designed to help as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time. They also tend to be restrictive in who they serve and typically have long wait times. Private services are more open with minimal waits but are expensive. Moving Forward attempts to bridge the gap between the two models by offering low-cost services for long-term healing. Moving Forward offers free short-term and affordable long-term counselling options to underserved communities across Canada via in-person, telephone, and online platforms. Our 2022 fundraiser was organized to raise funds for Moving Forward Family Services supplementing its existing resources and creating new ones.
