Mental Health Care - A Daily Reality


Sustained pain or illness will have an effect on mental health. There is no maybe about this. Mind and body are inextricably intertwined and medicine is increasingly aware of this. Patients are treated as a whole and not as a collection of parts, and you too must consider yourself as a whole, with your emotional, psychological and physical well-being all equally important.


Pain psychologists, cognitive behavioural therapists, psychologists, counsellors and psychiatrists are extremely important resources that you cannot overlook. No matter what you need help with–whether it's using cognitive behavioural training to reframe your emotional reactions to pain, or seeing a counsellor to talk through your loss of self-esteem, or visiting a psychologist to work through your feelings of anger and grief–there are resources available to you.

Many health insurance programs cover (at least partially) the cost of mental health care. When this isn't an option, there will be others. There are a lot of clinics that offer subsidized or free counselling; many of them have wait lists, but they are out there and putting your name down, even if you're not sure you need help, is great insurance against being caught out later.

Just like going to the gym to keep your muscles healthy, taking care of your mental health should be an ongoing and proactive effort. And seeing a counsellor or seeking professional help for this care is just as normal and necessary as going to the doctor for any physical ailment you're not sure how to handle. Recognize this, and then internalize this, as it's vital for your long term mental health management.

Do you know who your nearest mental healthcare provider is?


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