February marks Psychology Month in British Columbia, and the BC Psychological Association is putting on two free public presentations in Burnaby to help raise awareness of the role psychology plays in our lives.
Semiramis du Sautoy, a registered clinical counsellor, is hosting a free presentation at on Feb. 12 on the topic of managing and understanding anxiety in children.
The session is on Feb. 12 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the McGill Library on the topic: Helping Children Chase Away Worry: Understanding and Managing Anxiety in Children.
According to the association, the Mental Health Commission of Canada estimates the economic burden of mental illness in the Canadian economy to be $51 billion per year and notes one in five Canadians will face a mental illness or substance mis-use problem in their lifetime.
The World Health Organization has determined depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. More than 300 million people are now living with depression – an increase of more than 18 per cent in 10 years.
“Mental illness and addiction have a profound effect on everyone, in all walks of life and in all our communities. It affects families, the economy and the health care system,” says Cherie Payne, executive director of the BC Psychological Association. “Psychologists can help people through our referral service and by providing evidence-based treatment solutions to government that can effectively treat those suffering from mental illness and addiction.”
