Mothers are a hidden population of those who may suffer silently with feelings of being overwhelmed, anxious, depressed and stressed. This month is not only Mental Health Awareness Month but a time to celebrate mothers everywhere while 41 per cent of Canadians report a decline in their mental health since the pandemic started.
"It's time to reach out," Maureen Davis, executive director of the Northern BC branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, said. "Please don't wait."
Davis said she worries about the new mothers who ordinarily get full support from family and friends, who are now alone trying to cope with all the emotional and physical changes a new mom undergoes after giving birth.
Studies show that even if there are two parents within a household the bulk of the burden falls to the mother, Davis added.
Davis said those who are particularly vulnerable are single mothers living in poverty who can't get to resources because they might not have a computer to access so many supports that have now gone virtual. There were many in-person support groups for new moms like Strong Start that were a good way to connect, Davis added.
"Programs like that one was a huge way to socialize but now we've had a whole year where we have not been able to socialize for the mums as well as the little ones," Davis said.
"When I look at mothers who are trying to do it all - work, home school their kids when they weren't able to be in school or keep on top of them when schooling was virtual - it's a lot of work."
Many mothers are looking at their children's school work and find themselves out of their element, escalating the frustration at home.
"Teaching versus mothering can be a very different process," Davis said. "It's hard and then you're managing your children's anxiety and worry around covid as well."
CMHA studies are showing 53 per cent of parents are now dealing with anxiety and 45 per cent feel their mental health has declined.
"Nine per cent are now having suicidal thoughts," Davis said. "That's huge and frightening. On the positive side some are noting they are spending more quality time with their kids but on the other hand some are noting they are yelling more, having more conflicts with their children, disciplining their kids more - it's a real mixed bag and I would suspect that some of the differences come with poverty and what options are open to you, what activities you can provide your children versus when you can't afford it. It's tough."
There are no magic answers, Davis added.
"It's important for women to know have every reason to be exhausted, they have every reason to be frustrated, and if that at least helps keep guilt at bay that would be good," Davis said.
"Find ways to reach out. There are a lot of virtual services right now for those who can. It's important to reach out if you find that you spend most of your days overwhelmed, exhausted, depressed, anxious - don't go it alone."
For more information visit cmha.ca/branches/northern-bc-branch or call 250-564-8644.
Canadians' mental health check
As screen time and food intake increases while shopping online for things we don't need seems to be the going trend, it looks like the pandemic continues to affect Canadians' mental health.
About 41 per cent of Canadians have reported a decline in their mental health since the pandemic started.
On the flipside most of us are coping with the stress at 79 per cent as we take to walking or exercising outside, connecting with friends and family virtually at 43 per cent, maintaining a healthy lifestyle at 40 per cent, keeping up to date with current events at 38 per cent and getting a hobby at 37 per cent.
And we're feeling all the feels as 77 per cent of Canadians say they are worried, bored, stressed, lonely and sad, said the data recently released by CMHA and UBC, which is the third round of data from the Assessing the Impacts of COVID-19 on Mental Health national monitoring survey.
“While it’s discouraging to think that so many Canadians are feeling upset, difficult emotions may actually be an appropriate response to a major event like a global pandemic,” Margaret Eaton, National CEO of CMHA, said. “It’s a sign of good mental health when someone can experience a full range of emotions, and recognize, understand and manage how they feel - even when it’s uncomfortable. Being able to make an emotional connection is also part of how we seek comfort and reassurance from people in our lives.”
Studies show that if people put a name to the emotions helps calm it as they go through it.
“Good mental health is not about being happy all the time but having appropriate emotional and behavioural responses to stressors and life events,” Emily Jenkins, a professor of nursing at UBC who studies mental health and substance use, said. “Sharing our very normal feelings of sadness, fear and worry is particularly important during this unusual time of stress, uncertainty and loss.”
Get help when needed.
Learn more about mental health and emotions at www.mentalhealthweek.ca.
