McGill and Bell say Let’s Talk
Did you know that mental illness is the leading cause of disability in Canada? That more than 8% of Canadians will face an affective or anxiety disorder in their lifetime? This number is significantly higher among university students. The problem? There is still a reasonable amount of stigma and unfamiliarity associated with mental illness, so much so, that many students either ignore their mental health or don’t seek treatment.
In an effort to combat some of the ignorance and fear surrounding the aspect of seeking help, McGill University, with the help and funds from Bell Canada, has created a Mental Health Hub to help students navigate their issues and learn more about the various services available.
In October of 2014, the Bell Let’s Talk Campaign donated $500,000 to McGill in the pursuit of more accessible mental health services. Included in the Mental Health Hub, one of the key elements the campaign funded was a screening questionnaire. This kind of psychological test is instrumental in informing students about possible mental health concerns they may be facing. The screening test is an abridged version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and CAGE-AID. The PHQ is a self-administered test commonly used to diagnose the five most common mental illnesses that plague society: depression, anxiety, somatoform, substance abuse and eating disorders. The CAGE-AID questionnaire’s main focus is alcohol and drug abuse. With these tests and disorders in mind, the McGill Mental Health Hub has developed a unique opportunity for students to take charge of their mental health. Their screening includes numerous questions on depression, anxiety, substance abuse and eating disorders: the most common disorders seen in university students.
The purpose of this questionnaire is not to assign a diagnosis; but rather, it is a chance for students to simply get feedback. If your responses appear to show moderate to severe distress, the system will suggest you make an appointment with the Mental Health Clinic on campus. If your responses indicate you are on the low scale of distress, it will suggest you utilize services such as the Peer Support Network or Nightline.
So what might an advantage to this screening test be?
For one, the test is a self-administered online questionnaire. Doing this type of test often lessens the intimidation factor of seeing a counselor or psychologist from the outset. Due to the stigma and social isolation associated with mental illness, many students do not actively seek help or attribute their distress to personal failings. This screening test is an excellent resource for students who are hesitant and anxious regarding the prospect of acknowledging any issues as well as pursuing treatment options. All in all, with the implementation of the new McGill Mental Health Hub and its screening questionnaire, we are one step closer to ending the stigma and making mental health care that much more accessible for students on campus.
For more mental illness statistics, please visit: http://www.cmha.ca/media/fast-facts-about-mental-illness
To visit the Hub and take the screening test, please visit: http://www.mcgillmentalhealthhub.ca/
