Mental Health Challenges Supports and Services Achieving

Everyone faces events in their day to day life which, if not Crisis Assessment and Support Team PosItive
mental
addressed, could challenge their mental health. (CAST) provides 24/7 mental health crisis support for
Common challenges include: people aged 16 and older. A program of Community
Addiction and Mental Health of Haldimand and Norfolk.
 Losses (loved ones, health, job)
 Employment (loss, new, retirement)
 Life events (wedding, pregnancy)
1-866-487-CAST (2278)

Child and Youth Crisis Service

health
Haldimand-Norfolk REACH
 Housing 24/7 service for children, youth and their
 Relationships families who are experiencing a mental health crisis.
1-866-327-3224
 Finances / Legal
 Health / Illness Community Addiction and Mental Health Services
(CAMHS) provides community-based mental health
Even positive life events can be stressful and require services for people aged 16 + and
attention and care. Identify stressors, put good stress addiction services for all ages.
management techniques in place and take time to focus 519-587-4658
on personal needs to maintain balance with life events.

Getting Help
A physician, employee assistance program,
clergy or counsellor may be able to offer support Mental health is our ability to feel, think, and
Seek professional help if you are having any of the
or refer you to services. act in ways that allow us to enjoy life and
following feelings or behaviours:
 Inability to sleep For general information visit the Mental Health & deal with daily challenges.
 Feeling down, hopeless or helpless Wellness Collection at the Norfolk County Public Library,

 Difficulty concentrating
Simcoe branch or visit www.ncpl.ca for books, videos
and DVDs on mental illness/health, addiction and
Good overall health requires
 Using drugs, alcohol to cope recovery. both physical & mental health
 Negative or self destructive thoughts Pamphlet provided with support from:
Haldimand and Norfolk
 Thoughts of death or suicide

Asking for help is NOT a weakness …. Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant

Local Health Integration Network

early support can address problems For additional information or pamphlets contact:
before they become more difficult to Community Addiction and Mental Health Services
handle.
Wellness & Recovery Centre 1-877-909-4357 x2
 Positive Mental Health Positive Mental Health Achieving Mental Health

Mental health relates to how you think, feel and act. Good People with positive mental health have….. In addition to taking care of physical wellbeing, taking
mental health enables people to: care of yourself includes being involved with activities
 Have a positive attitude and manage life’s challenges Purpose - for those with positive mental health there is that make you ‘feel good’….
meaning and a reason to get up every day. Their life
 Feel good about and care for themselves and others provides purpose and fulfillment in activities and Exercise your brain - learn and
 Act responsibly in their work and in their relationships relationships. discover, take a class, visit the library,
join a club, play a challenging game,
People with positive mental health are….. Zest for living - finding a balance between work and play, work on a puzzle.
rest and activity. Enjoying life with the ability to laugh and
Resilient - while everyone can face bad times, having have fun. Volunteer - being useful to others and being valued for
positive mental health or resilience is the ability to what you do helps build self esteem.
‘bounce back’, to cope with a negative or challenging BALANCE
situation and not let it knock you down and keep you Enjoy nature - a walk in the park can lower blood
down. pressure and reduce stress.

Appeal to your senses - find pleasure in

Physical & Mental Health the things that look, sound, feel, smell
and taste right to you - your five senses
Optimistic - challenging situations can become
Positive mental health plays a key role in both preventing can provide calming and soothing
overwhelming if seen only as burdens rather than as
the onset of some physical health problems and in pleasure.
problems needing a solution. Those with positive mental
health approach new situations with an ‘I can’ attitude. coping with existing physical health problems. Caring for
yourself is an important building block for overall positive Leisure - hobbies and activities
Contented - what we have and what we want are often mental health. provide fun, a necessity, as play
different and those with good mental health can provides a balance in life which
appreciate what they have and see what they want as Take care of your body - good diet, exercise and sleep contributes to mental health.
goals to achieve rather than as losses to mourn. habits provide a solid foundation to achieve overall
physical and mental health. Manage stress - stress takes a heavy toll on mental
Flexible - life is not always predictable and those with health - know your stressors and how to manage them.
good mental health are able to adapt to changing
situations and are willing and comfortable to learn new Build friendships - the company of others helps us to
skills to deal with change. feel and be our best everyday.
Self confident - those with good
mental health believe in Limit alcohol, and avoid cigarettes and drugs - these Support network - talking about feelings
themselves and in their ability to substances provide the illusion of being calming but and issues reduces stress and provides
tackle the daily challenges of life. have long term negative effects on physical and mental support.
health.

Achieving Positive Mental Health