Rediscovering empathy in the community

We are struggling with empathy. I think we’re all feeling that way, and in fact there is new data that confirms it.

Recent research from the Canadian Mental Health Association and the University of British Columbia has confirmed that Canadians are feeling less empathetic due to COVID-19. In Ontario, 12 per cent of people reported feeling empathy while that number was 26 per cent when the pandemic started. On top of that, 39 per cent of Ontarians surveyed confirmed their mental health has gotten worse since the start of COVID.

There’s no question our mental health has gotten worse. Stress and anxiety levels are high and for those managing teams of people, ensuring the health and wellness of your employees can be an added pressure. For you, those stress levels might be the trigger you use to book a counselling appointment.

But a lack of empathy shouldn’t be brushed off either.

Our ability to empathize with others is a foundational tool in our own mental health and wellness. If we are constantly critical of others, if we are overreacting and can’t even try to understand how another person is feeling, not only does it drive a wedge between groups of people or individuals, but it can also hinder our ability to see the world from a different perspective.

What makes our community beautiful is the differences that we come to the table with. We all have different experiences and varied perspectives that together, we can share and connect over.

Let’s make a commitment together to rediscover empathy this year and find our way forward to a stronger community.

Thank you,

Jason King
Executive Director 

Registration is open!

Sleep and its impacts on mental health

If you have a young person who is falling asleep at school, struggling to wake up in the morning, is more forgetful than normal and just generally irritable…they may not be getting enough sleep. In fact, studies show that 70 per cent of teenagers (over 12 years) are not getting the required amount of sleep.

We’ll be sharing more in the weeks and months ahead on our blog and social channels on how to practice a healthy sleep schedule and other ways sleep plays an important role in your overall mental health.

Supporting the LGBTQIA2S+ community

It’s 2022 and the world has taken steps forward to be more accepting of people regardless of their sexuality — but there is still a lot of work to do. 

As we mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on May 17, it’s essential to sit and think about the difference we can all make in our everyday lives to denounce the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. 

Struggles with life transitions

Life transitions are all about the changes in life. Some are sudden, tragic and overwhelming, like the loss of a loved one, while other life transitions may seem more predictable, such as a move.

Regardless of the situation, life transitions force us to examine our life as we know it. Examples of challenging life transitions may include, death, aging, relocation, divorce, parenting, moving from home, and questioning gender and sexual identity.

When life transitions prove difficult and lead to stress, anxiety, and depression a counsellor can help treat those conditions and help you explore coping strategies.

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Support SOS

We are here to work together as a community to empower and elevate individuals and families to deal with life’s challenges. Mental wellness affects each and every one of us. Your donation can directly impact the life of a neighbour, friend or loved one.