You don’t have to deal with mental health issues alone, says CMHA Waterloo Wellington [Video]

Around one quarter of Canadian women report they do not know where to turn to for mental health support.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Waterloo Wellington is working to break down those barriers by starting conversations around mental health without shame.

Vanessa Dreyer sought out help for her and her daughter.

“The first thing I realized was all of that hesitation was just creating more anxiety,” says Dreyer. “And once I reached out and I got that support, I saw that I wasn’t alone and that people could actually help us, it was life changing.”

According CMHA, despite being at a higher risk for developing mental health disorders, women are three times more likely to face barriers when seeking support. Officials say women tend to not focus on their own self-care. CMHA Waterloo Wellington fund development manager Beth King says it starts with courage.

“Women are typically our caregivers. …