About 11% of men and 16% of women will experience major depression during their lives. (2009). That was the old baseline, the old normal.

Coinciding with the pandemic, 7 out of 10 Canadians reported mental distress in part related to the pandemic.

2 out of 5 (40%) reported some level of mental distress in the preceding month.

The most common health conditions are anxiety and depression. This is the current normal.

What does this suggest about our own self-care? What does this suggest about how we treat each other? What are things people can do when experiencing anxiety and depression?

Discuss.

Take the #20percentchallenge

Life changes constantly.

Sometimes it is important to just show up, receive the day and do the best we can [Noom App].

Consider examples of times when all you could muster is to suit up and show up, and you did.

Discuss.

Take the #20percentchallenge 

Give yourself some positive affirmations.

When things get tough, pause and recognize you are strong, safe, and capable of doing tough things.

Acknowledge you are doing to best you can. 

Discuss.

Take the #20percentchallenge.

Priorities and life circumstances change.

If goals don’t shift with them, there will be an incongruence.

Take stock of where you are at and be considerate and deliberate in shifting goals as appropriate.

This can be about basic day-to-day goals and self-care as well.

For Example: If you are burned out, you may focus on going to sleep early instead of going to the gym that evening. [Noom App]

Can you think of a time when it was appropriate to adjust a goal?

Discuss.

Take the #20percentchallenge

We all have unique experiences, but we are not alone.

Reach out to friends to offer support and lend support as well. 

How can we be available to and walk beside colleagues who need support?

How can we make it known to trusted friends, family and colleagues that we would like support?

Take the #20percentchallenge.

Discuss.