It’s noon hour on Central Avenue, in Prince Albert. While most of us are heading out to lunch, a group of people can be heard, chanting, in the street. They’re loud, really loud. Hard to ignore, so I run up to the edge of the roof-top parkade and look down to see more than twenty people, stopped at a crosswalk, in front of the Canada Building. They have signs, but only one which I can read. It says “End End End”. Their chant is loud, but not too clear.. I keep hearing “Mental Health!”
Mental health is about more than mental illness. It’s more than being happy all the time. It’s about feeling good about who you are, having balance in your life, and managing life’s highs and lows.
Well, I work at the College of Nursing, and mental health is a pretty popular conversation in our hallways and classes, so I decided to ask this group what was up.
They were dressed as loud as their voices and very friendly. Douglas Kinar, the Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association, was among them, and happy to explain that this is Canadian Mental Health Week. Please take a moment, to #GetLoud about mental health and visit Their Website .