CMHA MENTAL HEALTH WEEK – THE KINDNESS PROJECT

CMHA MENTAL HEALTH WEEK
· CMHA Mental Health Week takes place every year during the first week of May.
· This year it runs from May 6-12.
· Mental Health Week was first introduced by CMHA in 1951.
· This is the 73rd anniversary of Mental Health Week in Canada.
· Mental health week is a social change campaign. (Versus an “awareness” campaign.)
· The goal is to educate the public and shift beliefs and perceptions about mental health.
· MHW helps promote behaviours and attitudes that foster well-being, support good mental health and create a culture of understanding and acceptance.

THIS YEAR’S THEME
· For 2024, Mental Health Week is all about compassion.
· These days, people are facing worrying levels of stress, anxiety, and loneliness.
· Issues such as social inequality, concerns about affordability, political divisiveness and climate change only add to these feelings.
· This may explain the shift we’re seeing in how Canadians are feeling about being compassionate. A new survey by CMHA National shows that although the majority of Canadians say they feel compelled to help when they see someone struggling, many admit to feeling overwhelmed by the issues and unsure where to begin. You’ll hear more about this survey at the start of Mental Health Week.
· In this context, the simple but powerful message to Be Kind is more important and relevant than ever – especially because there are many mental health benefits associated with compassion.
· We know that suffering is part of our humanity, but it is easy to overlook that kindness is also vital to our human nature.
· As well, kindness plays an important role in addressing the inequalities that contribute to suffering.

WHAT DOES MENTAL HEALTH WEEK LOOK LIKE IN OUR COMMUNITY?
· Six community partners (CMHA NBD, North Bay Regional Health Centre, Hands, Nipissing Wellness OHT, City of North Bay) and Clark Communications have put together a jam-packed calendar of activities.
· Each day will have events and activities around a different “kindness” theme, such as kindness for families, kindness to ourselves, kindness for helpers, for animals and for our community. · Visit CMHA North Bay’s website, nbd.cmha.ca, for full details.

THE KINDNESS PROJECT
· The Kindness Project is taking place during CMHA Mental Health Week, from May 6-12.
· This is the launch edition, and it will be an annual campaign.
· CMHA North Bay and District is spearheading The Kindness Project.
· It has joined forces with volunteers, community partners and Clark Communications
· The goal is to:
o Encourage community members to engage in acts of kindness;
o Raise awareness about the positive impacts of small acts of kindness on our mental            health and overall well-being (in other words, Do good, Feel good); and
o Create a sense of interconnectedness and support within the community.

· It invites people to take pictures and videos of their kind acts to help inspire others and keep spreading kindness beyond Mental Health Week.
· You can tag The Kindness Project on social media, @kindnessnorth and with the hashtag #kindnessnorth or email your stories [email protected].
· The Kindness Project will also be highlighting some of these examples in a special Kindness Report podcast.
· The goal is to create a grassroots movement that spreads compassion and creates a ripple effect of kindness.
· You can expect to hear about spontaneous acts of kindness throughout the community. · Check out the website kindnessnorth.ca

THE SCIENCE BEHIND KINDNESS AND COMPASSION
· Over the past decade, there has been a surge in research supporting the many mental health benefits associated with compassion – toward ourselves and others.
· Giving or receiving compassion can release oxytocin, a feel-good hormone.
· Practicing compassion has been shown to:
o Increase feelings of happiness
o Be soothing and calming
o Increase trust and connection
o Improve emotional resilience
o Ease depression
o Reduce stress, anxiety and loneliness
o Foster a sense of meaning and fulfillment
· Some other examples of the benefits of compassion:
o Caregivers who practice self-compassion are better protected from burnout;
o In workplaces, organizational health improves, along with employee resilience and             retention;
o In educational settings, children and adolescents who are encouraged to practice                compassion show diminished psychological distress and stress, and enhanced                    relationships and emotional regulation.
· New therapeutic approaches also incorporate compassion, such as Compassion-focused therapy or CFT. (Background: “CFT aims to help those who struggle with shame and self-criticism, often resulting from early experiences of abuse or neglect. CFT teaches individuals to cultivate the skills of self-compassion and other-oriented compassion, which are thougth to help regulate mood and lead to feelings of safety, self-acceptance and comfort.” – Psychology Today website)

THE OPPORTUNITY
· Compassion is a skill that can be learned and practiced!
· Compassion is also free, and contagious. Experiencing it can encourage people to “pay it forward.”
· We can practice compassion by:
o Showing warmth and understanding during times of suffering, failure or perceived              inadequacy
o Acknowledging that both suffering and personal shortcomings are unavoidable                    aspects of the shared human experience.
· Compassion shows the commonality between ourselves and others.
· It establishes trust, strengthens relationships, and cultivates a sense of community.
· This contributes to creating a more just and equitable society.

NEED HELP?
· If you or someone you know needs mental health support, there are free programs and services available to help.
· Connect with your local CMHA branch to learn more about mental health and substance use programs, services and supports. · In the North Bay area, call 705-476-4088 or visit the website, nbd.cmha.ca
· If you are thinking of suicide or worried about someone you know, call or text 9-8-8, toll free, anytime for support.