According to Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the Canadian Mental Health Association:
- 1 in 3 Canadians will suffer from a mental health episode at one point in their life.
- The most common mental health conditions (or mood disorders) are anxiety and depression.
- Depression affects approximately 2 million Canadians over 20 years of age at some point in their lives.
- Approximately 2.5 million Canadians 20 years and over live with an Anxiety Disorder.
- Mood disorders are characterized by very intense feelings which can significantly impact an individual’s daily functioning.
While we may think of low mood and/or “feeling stressed out” as adult problems, they can affect people of all ages. Children and teenagers can experience mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. In fact, these feelings can be so overwhelming that they can interfere with a youth’s ability cope in their day to day life. Sometimes the pressure associated with growing up, or having an undiagnosed condition (i.e., ADHD or a learning disability) can result in a mood disorder.
Who can help?
There are many excellent resources available to individuals who suspect either they or a loved one is suffering from a mood disorder.
General Practitioners (GPs): Your GP or family physician can help determine whether your symptoms are due to anxiety or depression, another health problem, or both. Your physician may monitor your symptoms, prescribe medication to help you, or refer you to a mental health professional or program in your community.
Mental Health Professionals: Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Counsellors are the most common types of professionals who provide help to people with anxiety and/or depression. Of these professionals, only psychiatrists can prescribe medications. Ask your physician to direct you to the type of professional that will be best suited to helping you. Health professionals have different training, credentials, licenses, and experience. Check whether practitioners have a license to practice, training in evidence-based treatment (treatments scientific research shows are helpful), and experience treating anxiety and/or depression.
More severe mental health problems often require the services of a psychiatrist and/or a psychologist whereas a counsellor can often help with less severe problems. Psychiatrists require a referral from a physician and are covered by MSP. You can self-refer to most psychologists and counsellors; however, you will generally have to pay out of pocket for their services. For more information on the difference between psychologists, psychiatrists and counsellors, visit: What is the difference between Psychologists, Psychiatrists and Counsellors?
Additional resources:
The Canadian Mental Health Association is a national, voluntary organization that promotes the mental health of all and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing mental illness. The CMHA accomplishes this mission through advocacy, education, research and service.
Mental Health Canada – This website has a national comprehensive directory of Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Psychoanalysts, Counsellors, and Psychotherapists searchable by professional designation, gender and location. Mental health professionals offer medical treatment and/or specialize in individual, couples, marital, family or group therapy. Topics covered are extensive and include anxiety, depression, as well as ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder and many other conditions.
Specific information about mental health resources, including emergency contact information, in Alberta can be found at this link. Alberta Health Services