As you may already know, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Here at Femade, we understand that physical and mental health are so connected that without one the other fails. According to a 2021 study in Poland, the Covid-19 pandemic is responsible for a 31% increase in anxiety and depression across the globe (Śniadach et al., 2021). With a rapid decrease in mental health it is more important than ever to offer a variety of support systems: every person is unique, and therefore their care needs to be unique in turn. At Femade we offer peer support, as well as sessions with a psychotherapist both online and in person. We also offer Registered Massage Therapy and Acupuncture, which are both proven to have positive effects on mental health.
Earlier this month we welcomed Aya Abdukarim who has a masters degree in Neurodivergence of Mental Health and is our Peer Support Specialist. Aya offers a safe outlet that would help navigate current mental health challenges, and offers her services in both English and Arabic. The services will offer open discussion, coping mechanisms, an unbiased third party, and a free space to express your challenges and obstacles you’re currently facing. Remember, nothing is too small or irrelevant when it comes to your mental health; seeking help is brave and is a huge step forward. Knowledge is power and knowing what is triggering anxiety and depression can relieve a lot of the stress. Aya also specializes in helping to bridge the gap between generations when acclimating to a new country, as well as supporting cultural awareness and the limitations individuals face when migrating to Canada. While this outlet of mental health support does not diagnose, we can help educate on the signs and symptoms that may be markers for depression and anxiety.
Another new face joining our team at Femade is Melanie Parent-Dance. Melanie is a Registered Social Worker and offers her services in both English and French. While Melanie’s specialty is supporting women affected by violence and sexual assualts and the female judicial environment, her doors are open to everyone in need of support. It is essential to understand that your experiences and feelings are validated, and Melanie’s holistic therapeutic style uses compassion and empathy that are ingrained in her active listening. Furthermore, Melanie is committed to creating a safe and therapeutic relationship based on respect and empowerment which are influenced by a feminist structural approach. She uses an eclectic generalist therapeutic approach which means that the interventions are based on the unique needs of each person considering the influence of the various issues that affect people's lives at the individual, environmental, social and physical level.
A member of our Patient Advisory Board and chronic pain warrior herself, Erin Fernie is leading a series of social support groups for those in need. Being isolated is a heavy weight that no one should have to carry on their own. One of our goals here at Femade is to continually grow our community through shared experiences in a safe space. We have sessions open monthly on Sunday morning, Tuesday afternoon and evening. Sessions have a maximum of 8 attendees to keep it intimate but if you need to get into a session that is fully booked, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Attend one session, or all of the sessions, it is up to you!
Acupuncture targets areas within the body that are shifting in the wrong direction, and bringing it back to homeostasis. This is no different for mood disorders and mental health. For someone with mental health issues we are trying to assess what factors are driving this mood state and then combating it by helping the body regain a sense of relief. Acupuncture is proven to relieve stress, reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. In fact studies have shown acupuncture to have a significant impact on upregulation of neurotransmitters and a down regulation of certain inflammatory factors.
When it comes to massage therapy, you may be wondering, ‘how can a massage help with my mental health? I mean, it feels nice in the moment, but are there really any long term positive effects on my mental health?’ The answer depends on each person, but in short, massage can help improve quality of sleep, reduce stress/anxiety, increase positive associations with touch, and improve a sense of well-being (Massage for Mental health). Those living with chronic pain are likely also well acquainted with anxiety, depression and burnout. Massage therapy can help by providing guidance from a professional, and a safe space where we can reconnect with our bodies after periods of dissociation. Therapeutic touch has also been known to reduce feelings of anxiety, improve symptoms of depression and give a greater sense of well being. A massage therapy treatment aimed specifically at stress reduction and relaxation can help our nervous system shift from a sympathetic state (fight or flight) to a parasympathetic state (rest and digest) which helps us feel more prepared to face the challenges of everyday life.
One of our goals at Femade is to achieve a mind-body approach to both physical and mental states of health. While Depression and Anxiety often fit under the umbrella of invisible illness, our team is well aware of the signs of these mental health issues and can help - first by creating that safe space for your self care - and then by achieving a level of comfort that can help you manage your mental health in a more approachable way.
References
Massage for Mental Health | AMTA. (n.d.). Www.amtamassage.org. https://www.amtamassage.org/resources/massage-and-health/mental-health/
Śniadach, J., Szymkowiak, S., Osip, P., & Waszkiewicz, N. (2021). Increased Depression and Anxiety Disorders during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Children and Adolescents: A Literature Review. Life (Basel, Switzerland), 11(11), 1188.