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If you are having an immediate
mental health crisis, please click here to
see a listing of mental health crisis lines and services available in Manitoba.
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Mental
Health
Mental health is the capacity for each of us to
feel, think, and act in ways that enhance our ability to enjoy
life and deal with the challenges we face (Health Canada).
It means striking a balance in all aspects of your life:
social, physical, spiritual, economic and mental (Canadian
Mental Health Association).
The
World
Health Organization (WHO) defines "health" as "a
state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
Mental Illness
Mental Illness is the term that refers to a variety
of diagnosable mental disorders. Mental disorders are health conditions
that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behaviour
(or some combination) associated with distress and/or impaired
functioning (CMHA).
In Canada, mental illness is the single largest
category of disease affecting Canadians (CAMIMH, 2000). One in 5 Canadians, or up to 20% of the population
will experience a mental illness at some point in their lives,
one in three will suffer from a severe and persistent mental illness
(CAMIMH,
2000), and one in eight will actually be hospitalized (Submission
to the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, CMHA,
2001). If we add family members who carry a major burden
of care, the figures of those impacted by mental illness in Canada
would be multiplied 2 or 3 times (CMHA, 2001). Timely and
appropriate mental health services are critical to Manitobans'
health. When mental disorders occur, they have an immense
impact on individuals and families.
This Site
Mental health is described by the World Health
Organization as "a state of well-being in which the individual
realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal
stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is
able to make a contribution to his or her community" (WHO,
2001). Promoting
mental health, identifying and intervening early in mental illness,
and addressing the needs of those living with mental disorders
are health priorities and are of significant interest to Manitoba
Health.
This site has been created to provide you with a general overview
of the mental health system in Manitoba. Please feel free to
browse this site and choose from the options available on the left of
this page. You will find mental health and mental
illness-related information dealing with topics such as:
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Mental
Health Renewal in Manitoba
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the Mental Health Education Resource
Centre of Manitoba
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the Selkirk Mental Health Centre
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the Office of the Chief Provincial Psychiatrist
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the Farm and
Rural Stress Line
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mental health services available in Manitoba
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addictions services in Manitoba
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the role of Manitoba Health and Regional Health
Authorities in the system and more.
For more information about the mental health services
available in your community, please contact your
local Regional Health Authority.
For
more information about the
roles and responsibilities of Manitoba Health in the mental
health system, please
contact:
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Manitoba Health
Mental Health and Addictions Branch
300 Carlton Street
Winnipeg MB R3B 3M9
Phone: (204)
786-7101
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