A call to be kind, and healing through compassion.

That’s the motto used by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) for Mental Health Awareness Week.

New Brunswick Chapter’s Executive Director Christa Baldwin has been with the organization for 12 years and said the stigma of talking about mental has reduced gradually.

However, she says the overuse of social media technology during the pandemic caused a rise in social anxiety and depression.

“We spent the pandemic asking people to be online and be connected with people be in school, through your work, all of those things on technology. I think somewhere along that journey some dependency happened,” said Baldwin.

Baldwin said seniors were also heavily affected by depression during the pandemic lockdowns from the long periods of loneliness.

To help fight mental health, the CMHA will host free live Facebook and Zoom meetings and seminars, these include better self-care, and ways to exercise.

Baldwin said signs and symptoms of mental health include sleeping problems, weight or appetite changes, and substance abuse.

More details about treatment and programs are found by clicking here.