Bell Let’s Talk Day reminds us that mental health matters too
Wednesday, January 24, was Bell Let’s Talk Day, Canada’s largest corporate campaign in support of mental health.
The initiative started in September 2020 and was built to focus on four key pillars:
Fighting the stigma.
Improving access to care.
Supporting world-class research and leading by example in workplace mental health.
Every year since 2020, on this day, our social media feeds and email inboxes are populated with messages reminding us to stop, think, and talk about the importance of mental health.
There’s been a lot of talk since the start of this campaign, but what about taking action to create positive change for mental health care in Canada?
According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), “one in five Canadians experiences a mental illness.” By the time Canadians are 40 years old, one in two has or has experienced a mental illness.
It’s time we started treating our mental health to be as important as our physical health and to continue to push the narrative that ‘it’s okay not to be okay.’
Breanna Malcolm, a personal trainer living in Lundar, believes that “being ‘healthy’ is more than just physical health; it’s mental health, too.”
Malcolm works full-time as an elementary school teacher in the community, part-time as the recreation director in Lundar, and runs her Interlake-based personal training business, Fierce Interlake Training, on the side.
She said I’m a personal trainer because I’ve always enjoyed being active and want to offer a positive service in my community.
“As a personal trainer, not only am I able to help my client’s physical health but also their mental health. Physical activity is proven to decrease stress and anxiety and provide the body with endorphins. In addition, group fitness classes provide a sense of community and socialization, which is extremely beneficial for our mental health.”
Malcolm feels fortunate that some clients also reach out to her about their mental health, and she’s ecstatic when they give her an update that it has improved.
“My role as a personal trainer is to support and understand my clients in all aspects of health, including both physical and mental health,” she said.
When struggling with your mental health and working through those challenges, it’s important to have outlets that you can rely on when things get heavy. Sometimes, that’s a peer you can confide in; other times, it’s habits you develop over time that are easily accessible and work for you.
“My physical health schedule is a habit and part of my routine; I continue to work on my mental health,” said Malcolm.
When life gets heavy, Malcolm suggests doing these things to help improve your mental health:
Move your body with a heart-pumping workout, walk in the fresh air, journal your thoughts, talk to someone you trust, have a bath or spend time resting alone.
But she acknowledges that sometimes, the simple things most accessible to you aren’t enough to curve whatever hump you are going through. Sometimes, we must connect with a mental health professional and allow them to help us.
As a personal trainer, Malcolm teaches weekly in-person workout classes in Lundar that offer an outlet for those struggling with mental health.
If you don’t live in Lundar, don’t worry; you can still participate through her online 30-minute Zoom workouts twice a week – Monday and Wednesday mornings from 6:15 to 6:45 a.m.
She records herself leading each workout and shares it with registered participants afterward.
If you can’t make it live in the morning or want to do the workout again, don’t sweat it; the recording is available for up to one week afterward. You can also join Malcolm at the gym on Tuesdays from 5 to 5:45 p.m. at Lundar School Gym.
In addition to these workouts, Malcolm offers six-week programs each season. The program comes with a workout geared towards your current fitness level, a recipe book she has created with sustainable, tasty meals, and access to the private Facebook group, where she posts daily for motivation, tips, recipes, and encouragement. The current six-week program is in progress and will run until Feb. 25.
Stay tuned; the next program is anticipated to start in the spring.
To register, contact Malcolm through her Instagram or Facebook page – Fierce Interlake Training or email fierceinterlaketraining@outlook.com.
If you, or anyone you know, is struggling with their mental health, here are some external resources available:
Manitoba Suicide Prevention and Support Line
• Phone: 1-877-435-7170
• Text: 45645
Klinic Crisis Line
• Phone: 204-786-8686
• Toll-free: 1-888-322-3019
Or reach out to your family doctor to access help near you.
“Every single person has things going on in their lives that we know nothing about. We cannot tell what’s going on in someone’s body by looking at them. Be kind. A small act of kindness can go a long way. If you are struggling with your mental health, please know that you matter and are loved,” said Malcolm.
