February ~ a Month for Healing, Hope and Happiness
“The mentally ill frighten and embarrass us. And so we marginalize the people who most need our acceptance. What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.”
- Glenn Close
It’s time to begin your healing journey
As we begin 2022 with new hopes and beginnings, we’re still faced with the ongoing challenges that follow with the pandemic and it’s never ending changes to our family life, education and work-life schedules. In celebration of February’s “Psychology Month,” Core Potentials is raising awareness about mental health in Canada. For many, reading or even signing up for an app or blog can be the first step in bettering their mental health. Whether you have already tried to find the appropriate therapist or just had negative experiences in general, I have listed an abundance of credible online resources for you to read, watch or listen to in digestible bite-sized pieces.
Coming from personal experience, I understand how debilitating depression, anxiety, panic attacks and mental health challenges can be. Like this blog, I encourage many to feel safe and connected to the suggested online resources I have listed below— hopefully— you find some sort of healing element when reading these stories with your friends or family.
Psychology Month is extremely important to celebrate as it highlights the efforts and works that Canadian Psychologists have made throughout the pandemic. Working alongside mental health researchers, practitioners and organizations, Psychology Month gives many a chance to promote effective mental health policies in Canada!
Let’s Talk Resources:
Positivity Apps
Many can agree that negative self-talk can set your day off on the wrong foot, however, users state that the app has helped overcome anxiety by reinforcing positive self-talk in their daily routines and rituals. Based on Thinkup’s recent blog on affirmations for pain, positive self talk can look like this.
“I am healthy and strong”
“I have harmless pain and I’m learning to deal with my stress”
“I can heal, I can be more active, activity is good for me”
David Schechter, M.D., Board-Certified Physician in Culver City, CA, Medical Staff, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Formerly, Clinical Assoc Professor USC School of Medicine, Author, The MindBody Workbook and Think Away Your Pain, Www.MindbodyMedicine.com
2. Shine
Shine is a mental health wellness program created by two women of colour who strive for a more accessible and diverse community for “better mornings and brighter days.” The annual mental wellness program includes: daily meditations, weekly courses, monthly virtual workshops and unlimited access to 1000+ meditations uploaded onto a library designed by diverse experts.
Personally, I highly recommend this app if you want to integrate a program into your daily routine without putting too much stress on where to start.
Topics include:
Black Mental Health
LGBTQ+ Mental Health
Latinx Mental Health
Navigating COVID-19 anxiety
Reducing stress
Journaling
And more!
If you are looking for a positivity app that gives you creative affirmations, you will love this free creative affirmations tool. This app will give you a small push into creating small habits with once a day motivational affirmations.
4. Headspace
Headspace is a popular app focusing on meditation, sleep, stress and mindfulness. This app is commonly used on an everyday basis and is proven to improve mood, emotional reactivity and external pressure. The user-friendly software is made for those who want to start meditating on a daily basis.
Mental Health Related Articles/Blogs
For many, mental health blogs have created a safe space for people to express their past or current battles in a like-minded community. Here are a couple of blogs I have hand-picked that could hopefully resonate with a variety of readers.
NAMI blog
The National Alliance for Mental Illness covers topics on racism, pandemic anxiety and traumas.
Click here to read Brooke Johnson's recent post!
2. Blurt
For those looking to literally blurt out what they're currently feeling, Blurt encourages you to speak from your heart through active listening!
Click here to learn more about active listening!
3. Time to Change
Time to Change acts more as a social media campaign rather than a blog because it encourages honest conversation on topics such as depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. If you are specifically looking for communities that you can relate to, check out their socials first to see what sparks your interest!
Click here to read Lauren’s story on “5 ways to start a conversation about mental health”
4. Your Friend Jane: Mental Health Blog
Jane is a mental health advocate and writer of the blog “Your Friend Jane.” She started her blog when she was struggling with her mental health in her freshman year of college. After taking off, her blog became a safe space for many who felt connected to her experiences and ideas. I think this blog would deeply resonate with those in college or in the beginning stages of a new chapter in their lives.
Click here to read Jane’s story on “How to beat the Sunday scaries!”
5. Follow on Instagram to see upcoming posts!
@canadianpsychological #PsychologyMonth #PsychologyMakesADifference
Website: https://cpa.ca/psychologymonth
Books, Podcasts and Channel Creators
Books
1. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, is a psychological memoir from the perspective of a Holocaust survivor who argues that human pursuit for pleasure is more so derived from meaning rather than immediate gratification.
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
2. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown, is a non-fictional self-help book about self-acceptance through releasing defeatist thoughts while maintaining a healthier connection with the world.
The Language of Kindness: A nurse’s story by Christie Watson
3. The Language of Kindness: A nurse’s story by Christie Watson, a memoir filled with insight from the experiences of a 20 year nursing career.
Podcasts
Read their online bio’s below
1. The Nod
“The Nod tells the stories of Black life that don’t get told anywhere else. Our show ranges from an explanation of purple drink’s association with Black culture to the story of an interracial drag troupe that traveled the nation in the 1940s. We celebrate the genius, the innovation, and the resilience that is so particular to being Black — in America, and around the world,” (The Nod, 2022).
2. Therapy for Black Girls
“The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly chat about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible version of ourselves,” (Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, 2022).
Check out Therapy for Black Girls Podcast!
3. Mental Illness Happy Hour
“The Mental Illness Happy Hour is a weekly online podcast that interviews comedians, artists, friends, and the occasional doctor. Each episode explores mental illness, trauma, addiction and negative thinking,” (Mental Illness Happy Hour, 2022).
Check out Mental Illness Happy Hour!
4. The Happiness Lab
“You might think more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations would make you happy. You’re dead wrong. In "The Happiness Lab" podcast, Yale professor Dr Laurie Santos will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will forever alter the way you think about happiness. She's changed the lives of thousands of people through her class "Psychology and the Good Life," and she'll change yours, too,” (The Happiness Lab, 2022).
Youtube Channel Creators
Kati Morton
1. Kati Morton is a licensed therapist making mental health videos to help educate and empower people on YouTube.
2. Psych2Go
“Saving lives by building communities around mental health and psychology animated content. Having personally experienced depression, and having a platform to share that was a healing process,” (Psych2Go, 2022).
Psych2Go uploads short psychology based videos for understanding mental health in an animated form.
Online Resources for Affordable Therapy
What is CBT? (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
What is CBT?
CBT, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, is a form of therapy treatment that specifically works on changing a person’s thoughts and behaviours to improve the quality of mood with short-term strategies. This form of treatment is widely popular now due to its long-term results.
CBT components include:
Cognitive Restructuring
Setting SMART Goals
Graded Exposure
Skills Training
Scheduling Activities
Mindfulness
For more information on what CBT is, please click here!
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. None of our services are used to diagnose or treat any health problem or disease. We do not provide medical advice. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues by consulting your physician. Any information we have provided here should not be used in place of a consultation with a health care provider.