Mental health is about more than accessing treatment and medication. The World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”
An estimated 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness in any given year. There are unique aspects to city living that can negatively impact our mental health. Long commutes, housing conditions, social isolation, precarious employment and many more factors affect our mental health every day. The most vulnerable residents face multiple challenges that can increase the likelihood of having poor mental health. In 2014 22.8 percent of the Torontonians reported that most days in their life were quite a bit or extremely stressful.
Mental health affects all of us and we all have a part to play in addressing mental health in the city. On July 27th Wellesley Institute hosted an event with Dr. Gary Belkin, Executive Deputy Commissioner of Mental Hygiene at the NYC Health Department to learn more about ThriveNYC in New York. ThriveNYC takes a public health approach to mental health where multiple city agencies and stakeholders are leading efforts to change the culture of mental health and get people help where they need it. The six guiding principles of this initiative include: change the culture, act early, close treatment gaps, partner with communities, use better data and strengthen government’s ability to lead. As Dr. Belkin remarked “What is the fluoride of mental health?” that can get us to start thinking about improving the mental health of the population.
Through ThriveNYC 250,000 New Yorkers will be trained in Mental Health First Aid to better help their friends, family members and co-workers. By partnering with communities to create locally relevant and culturally competent solutions they are including community and faith groups that can lead mental health promotion efforts. The Connections to Care initiative funded by ThriveNYC integrates mental health services in community-based organizations that serve low-income communities. In Harlem, the H.O.P.E. Centre led by a local church supports the mental health needs of communities of colour in an accessible environment. ThriveNYC is an opportunity to rethink how cities have an impact on mental health and well-being. Cities are uniquely placed to take action on mental health and respond to the needs of local communities. As convenors cities act as a bridge between community organizations, local communities, businesses and diverse sectors.
Cities can lead the way in innovation and challenge the status quo to enable communities to thrive. What if all city staff received Mental Health First Aid Training or more neighbourhoods had access to quality green spaces? Infrastructure and supports are needed to create environments where positive mental health is attainable. City services like transportation, libraries, urban planning, police, parks and recreation are connected to our experiences of mental health but any one service or sector alone cannot tackle this growing public health concern. Collaboration among different sectors and stakeholders is integral to support mental health promotion. There are many initiatives in Toronto focusing on the well-being of communities and many organizations are recognizing the importance of addressing mental health. The momentum is building and Toronto is well-positioned to develop a foundation for collaboration around mental health and well-being.