Letter to the Editor
The Recorder and Times - Brockville
April 30, 2005
Mental Health Week - Practice Mind and Body Fitness
Mental Health Week will be celebrated from May 2-8, 2005 with the theme "Mind and Body Fitness." During Mental Health Week the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office would like to challenge the community to not only think of "fitness" as physical exercise but to also think about nurturing our mental health. Practicing mind and body fitness centers on a healthy mind, body and spirit.
A state of good health necessarily includes both physical and mental health. Both are essential for a well-balanced life, for maintaining a positive attitude, enhancing self-esteem and confidence and developing the resilience needed to deal with the stresses we encounter in our daily lives. Just as good physical health gives us more strength to combat injury or illness, good mental health helps us to achieve balance and cope with stress. Taking care of our mental health on a regular basis helps us to develop a higher level of mental fitness.
During Mental Health Week we can also assist others in practicing mind and body fitness, by supporting individuals with mental illness in their quest for wellness and recovery. We can take an active part in promoting a greater understanding of mental illness. By raising our awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with mental illness, we can create a more inclusive, caring and accepting community. We all have a role to play!
Lori-Ann Leggett
Patient Advocate
Brockville
Cynthia Dillon
Rights Adviser
Brockville
