Katheryne Galarneau, CVR student
Mental health during a pandemic is very important, especially if we cannot have a normal social life. The stresses of managing school and trying to have a normal social life can take a toll on someone’s well-being. Staying motivated can be very difficult, too. During these times, we need to stress the importance of mental health. We should be stressing mental health all the time, to be honest.
For a person like me, who struggles with social anxiety and depression, these times are hard. It’s difficult to know where to reach out if we need help.
I think help and resources need to be made more available to adolescents, especially since we cannot have a normal social life or meet with people outside our family and school bubbles. Human contact is something that can help a person heal.
Since I have experience managing mental health issues, I wanted to share some tips for others who might be struggling. I am a firm believer that self-care and self-love are important. Taking that 15 minutes to an hour to yourself almost every day is good for your mental health. I would also recommend a book called The Book of Self Care: Remedies for healing mind, body and soul, by Mary Beth Janssen. It has helped me really explore the inner peace that I have been looking for when it comes to my mental health.
I know from speaking with other students that managing schoolwork has been extra challenging this year. It feels like I have had a lot of homework compared to last year, and I am not sure if it’s just because we missed half of our year or if some teachers haven’t adjusted their demands. We are stressed out because of this. I am sure that most of us adolescents feel this way.
I think there is a lack of understanding about mental health issues and unfortunately, there is still a stigma. Too many just say that people struggling with mental health problems are “just crazy” or that it is “all in their heads.” We need to break the stigma; especially during the pandemic when people are reaching out for help.
If you are struggling or know someone struggling, you are not alone; please consider reaching out.
Hotlines for mental health:
CLSC Huntingdon 450-829-2321
CLSC Saint-Chrysostome 450-826-3161
Ancres et Ailes (Santé Mentale) 450-829-3491
Suicide Action Montreal 1-866-APPELLE (277-3553)