Jonny Morris said it was interesting watching the effects of the season affect his colleagues in the same way as the people they help through it.

香蕉视频直播淚t feels like a bit of a slog right now,香蕉视频直播� the CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) B.C. chapter said from his office in Victoria. In conversations with staff, he said, 香蕉视频直播渋t feels different from three or four years ago, thinking about energy, motivation or excitement.香蕉视频直播�

On Jan. 17 Morris, his staff and the rest of the country endured 2022香蕉视频直播檚 edition of Blue Monday; the so-called saddest day of the year, a time when most people have returned to work from holidays and may be struggling to resume winter routines.

The day feels a little more literal than years past, Morris said, given the mix of pandemic realities and plain old seasonal depression. Both have led to the mental health associations香蕉视频直播� client numbers rising faster than in past years.

A research collaboration between the CMHA and University of British Columbia found nearly three-quarters (70 per cent) of the province香蕉视频直播檚 school-aged children have experienced a deterioration in their mental health due to the pandemic. The figure jumps to 77 per cent for adults.

Although much public attention has been given to youth mental health, Morris said the mental health of seniors deserves particular attention as they face greater levels of loneliness and isolation. Older adults are also twice as likely to experience depression since the onset of the pandemic, he said, contributed to in part by the COVID deaths seen amongst their generation.

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The findings paint a poor picture of performance for mental health by the province; less than half of the entire country (41 per cent) reported feeling worse since the pandemic. 香蕉视频直播� CMHA香蕉视频直播檚 free skills-building program for managing low mood, anxiety and moderate depression that typically sees 5,000 referrals a year nationwide 香蕉视频直播� saw a double-digit increase in referrals in 2021.

香蕉视频直播淔or parents, caregivers, people who are working and people who have lost work, the mental health impacts (of the pandemic) are profound,香蕉视频直播� Morris said. 香蕉视频直播淢any of us start planning at this time of the year, but that香蕉视频直播檚 a tough thing to do given what香蕉视频直播檚 happening in the world right now.香蕉视频直播�

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Those with any amount of control over situations that stress or depress them should exercise it as much as possible, he advised.

香蕉视频直播淢oney is a big stressor that香蕉视频直播檚 been reported recently, which can (make people) feel out of control,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淎 couple of steps of control in that area might be reaching out to your bank, a credit counselling agency or speaking with a loved one about what you香蕉视频直播檙e concerned about.香蕉视频直播�

Although telling someone facing financial stress to 香蕉视频直播渢ake a walk香蕉视频直播� might not seem helpful, Morris said the relationship between mental health and moving our bodies cannot be understated. He suggests building at least 15 minutes of physical exercise into an everyday routine to improve social and tasking behaviours.

If you香蕉视频直播檙e worried about someone other than yourself, Morris said, the answer is a simple one: 香蕉视频直播渞each out and connect to them.香蕉视频直播�

Do you have a story tip? Email: kiernan.green@blackpress.ca.

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