May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Published: May 5, 2023

Mental health is an essential aspect of our overall well-being. Making mental health care and support a regular part of our lives is a valuable gift that we can give to both ourselves and future generations.

Mental health is as important as physical health

We may all require mental health assistance at various times during our lifetime.In the years since we established Tri- City Psychology Services, seeking help has become more normalised, however there still is a way to go.

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A significant obstacle preventing people from seeking mental health assistance is the social stigma surrounding mental illness. However, it is essential to remember that there is no shame in seeking out a compassionate and understanding listener. Often, simply having someone listen to our concerns and explore potential solutions can make all the difference in improving our mental health.

There are many things we can do to strengthen our mental health and improve our overall well-being. Here are some strategies to consider:

Practice self-care: Self-care involves taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental needs. This can include things like getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, and making time for activities you enjoy.

Build resilience: Resilience is the ability to recover from adverse change. By gaining some knowledge about how our minds work, we can improve our ability to handle our emotions in a healthy way, leading to increased resilience and overall well-being. Resilience isn’t about feeling good all the time. It’s also about learning to cope psychologically with the bad things. It takes a toolbox of different things to be healthy Seek out support from friends, family, or mental health professionals to help you navigate difficult times.

Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness involves being present in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts and feelings without judgment. You can practice mindfulness through activities like meditation¹ , deep breathing, or yoga. Why Should I Meditate~ Sam Harris

Connect with others: Social support is essential for maintaining good mental health. Make time for social activities and reach out to friends and family for support when you need it.

Seek professional help: If you are struggling with mental health issues, don’t hesitate to seek help from a mental health professional. Therapy, medication, or a combination of both can be effective in treating mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

Set realistic goals: Setting and achieving goals can help you feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose. However, it’s important to set goals that are realistic and achievable to avoid feelings of failure or disappointment.

² Research has also shown that the overuse of devices and social media can be linked to an increase in loneliness as well as depression in teens.

²Limit screen time: Excessive screen time can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety. American Psychological Association Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence, Make sure to take breaks from electronic devices and spend time engaging in other activities.

Remember, taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. By prioritizing self-care, building resilience, and seeking support when needed, you can strengthen your mental health and improve your overall well-being.

Do you have a query or problem that you would like to talk about, or are you curious to hear more about how we can help you?

Whatever you want achieve through therapy our caring team is ready to help.

Get in touch

Canada Life eclaims

Published: May 3, 2023

Tri-City Psychology Services will soon be able to submit electronic claims on behalf of clients that are covered under the PSHCP.

The Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP)

Effective July 1, 2023, Canada Life will administer the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP). This means as the health care provider, we can submit electronic claims via TELUS eClaims on behalf of our clients covered under the PSHCP.

What does this mean for you? When we process your TELUS eClaims, it reduces your out-of-pocket expenses and you don’t have to do any paperwork.

April is Stress Awareness Month

Published: April 17, 2023

Stress Awareness Month is a yearly event observed in April to raise awareness about the impact of stress on our health and wellbeing. The main objective of this event is to educate people about the causes, effects, and coping mechanisms of stress.

During Stress Awareness Month, individuals and organizations around the world organize various activities such as workshops, seminars, webinars, and social media campaigns to promote awareness about stress management. The event aims to encourage people to take action to reduce stress in their lives by adopting healthy lifestyle habits and seeking professional help when needed.

The event was first observed in 1992 by the Health Resource Network (HRN) in the United States. Since then, it has been recognized by various organizations, including mental health associations, wellness centers, and universities, as a way to raise awareness about stress and its impact on our physical and mental health.

In summary, Stress Awareness Month is an annual event that seeks to educate people about stress, its causes, effects, and coping mechanisms, and encourages individuals to take steps to manage stress in their lives.

March 12-18 is Sleep Awareness Week

Published: March 8, 2023

Did you know that March 12–18 is National Sleep Awareness Week ®
Sleep Awareness Week is an annual campaign that aims to raise awareness about the importance of good sleep habits and the impact of sleep on overall health and well-being.

Why is Sleep Important?

One in five Americans sleeps less than six hours a night—a trend that can have serious personal health consequences. Sleep deprivation increases the risk for a number of chronic health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.¹ As anyone who has gone without sleep knows, a lack of rest is an impediment to one’s productivity at work, personal happiness, and overall health.

Sleep is the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day. How you feel while you are awake depends in part on what happens while you are sleeping. During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health.

If you have trouble sleeping¹

Check for underlying causes. Some conditions or medications may be interfering with your sleep patterns. Treating a condition or adjusting a medication may be all it takes to restore better sleep.

Practice good sleep hygiene. Use your bed for sleep and sex only, block as much noise and light as possible, go to bed and wake at the same times each day, and get out of bed if you haven’t fallen asleep within 20 minutes.

Nap if needed. If you like to nap, get your daytime shut-eye in midday. Naps late in the day can interfere with sleep later. If your problem is difficulty getting to sleep at night, then not napping can make you sleepier at bedtime and more likely to stay asleep.

Exercise earlier, not later. Exercise stimulates the body and brain, so make sure you finish exercising at least three hours before turning in.

Watch your diet. stay away from foods that cause heartburn. Ban caffeine-rich food and drinks (chocolate, tea, coffee, soda) at least six hours before bedtime. Don’t drink alcohol for at least two hours before bed.

See a sleep specialist. If your own efforts aren’t working, you’ll want the help of a sleep professional to both diagnose your problem and propose behavioral and possibly drug treatments.

^{1 Harvard Medical School https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/sleep}

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