17 29TH ANNUAL CRIME PREVENTION GUIDE Congratulations once again to the PEI Police Association for continuing their good work in the community in producing their 29th Annual Crime Prevention Guide. The theme selected for this year’s guide is ‘Mental Health Awareness’ which is a huge topic currently. The term ‘mental illness’ refers to a wide range of disorders that affect mood, thinking and behaviour. Examples include depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia, as well as substance use disorders and problem gambling. Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illness is common and treatable but should be treated as soon as possible. People struggling with mental health may be in your own family, live next door, be a teacher of your children, work in the same environment, or perhaps you yourself are the one struggling with mental health. While there are many things you can do that may help you achieve overall wellness, such as finding a reason to laugh, going for a walk with a friend, meditating, playing with a pet, sometimes more professional support and treatment is necessary to set you on a path to recovery. Mental health is a state of well-being, and we all have it. We might have a mental illness, and we might not, but either way, there is a way that we can all feel well and can all have good mental health. It is about having a sense of purpose, strong relationships, feeling connected to our communities, knowing who we are, coping with stress and enjoying life. And it’s never too early or too late to get there. But it’s not just about what you do for yourself, and everyone needs healthy and supportive places to work, live and learn. Unfortunately, stats show that only half of those affected receive treatment because of the stigma attached to mental health. Stats indicate that 70% of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence and young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group. Stigma can seem invisible but its effects are not. People with mental illness say that the stigma can be worse than the illness itself. Untreated, mental illness can contribute to higher medical expenses, poorer performance at school and work, harder to gain employment and as well, increased risk of suicide. In conclusion, let’s all #GetLoud about what mental health really is and get the conversation started. J. David Poirier Chief of Police Summerside Police Services MESSAGE FROM THE SUMMERSIDE CHIEF OF POLICE
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