I bet you thought this post was going to be about saving the environment, didn't you? Surprise - it's not. I'm actually going green for mental health awareness and participating in
Ashley's "Go Green" accessories swap. This is my first swap since I've been blogging here and I'm pretty excited about it. I love green, I love accessories, and I think mental health is one of those topics that too many people consider to be taboo.
Ashley has posted some facts and statistics on her blog, but I thought I'd track down some Canadian numbers for any of my fellow Canadians who may be reading. (All information is from the
Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia website.)
- Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend or colleague.
- Almost one half (49%) of those who feel they have suffered from depression or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor about this problem.
- Mental illness affects people of all ages, educational and income levels, and cultures.
- Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives.
- Anxiety disorders affect 5% of the household population, causing mild to severe impairment.
- Suicide is one of the leading causes of death from adolescence to middle age in both men and women.
- 20% of Canadians will personally experience a mental illness in their lifetime.
Big thanks to Ashley for setting up the swap, and for being my swap partner.
xo,
Sara
