{"id":21925,"date":"2026-04-09T10:54:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T14:54:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/?p=21925"},"modified":"2026-04-14T09:41:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T13:41:24","slug":"mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/en\/blog\/mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">Just like physical health, mental health is a key part of our overall well-being. It is greatly influenced by our living conditions and our social environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">In Greater Montreal, mental health issues are becoming more and more widespread, and they intersect with other social realities, such as poverty, social isolation, housing, and homelessness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 29%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-little-title\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>What\u2019s the difference between mental health and mental illness?<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mental health<\/strong> can be defined as our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how we feel, manage stress, relate to others, and cope with daily challenges. Everyone has a certain degree of mental health that changes with their experiences and living conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mental illness <\/strong>refers to disorders that affect thinking, mood, or behaviour and that can cause significant distress. These conditions include anxiety disorders, persistent depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia. Symptom severity will vary for each individual depending on their social and economic circumstances.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5.iStock-865618914-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Une femme d\u00e9prim\u00e9e assise sur une chaise dans une pi\u00e8ce sombre chez elle. Solitude, tristesse, \u00e9motion.\" class=\"wp-image-103342 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5.iStock-865618914-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5.iStock-865618914-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5.iStock-865618914-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5.iStock-865618914-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5.iStock-865618914-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center is-style-little-title\">\ud83d\udca1 A key distinction!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Mental health is not determined by whether someone has or does not have a mental illness. You can live with a mental illness and still have good mental health, while someone without a diagnosed condition can go through a period of great mental distress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:9px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:81px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-little-title\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Numbers that reveal the scope of the need<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n  <section id=\"block_d9552892444303f39ee1749151eae4d1\"  class=\"block-accordions aligndefault\">\n          <div class=\"faq-item accordion\">\n        <button class=\"faq-item__header accordion-toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-69e4f9bbc97c8\">\n          <p class=\"faq-item__title\">A very common reality<\/p>\n          <i class=\"icon icon-arrow-down\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <div class=\"faq-item__content accordion-content entry-content\" style=\"display:none;\" id=\"faq-69e4f9bbc97c8\">\n          <div class=\"entry-content alignfull\">\n          \n                          <ul>\n<li>Every year in Canada, one in five people is affected by a mental health disorder or mental illness.\u00b9<\/li>\n<li>Nearly one in two people will have experienced a mental health problem or mental illness by the age of 40.\u00b9<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n                                  <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n          <div class=\"faq-item accordion\">\n        <button class=\"faq-item__header accordion-toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-69e4f9bbc9a1d\">\n          <p class=\"faq-item__title\">Groups affected most<\/p>\n          <i class=\"icon icon-arrow-down\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <div class=\"faq-item__content accordion-content entry-content\" style=\"display:none;\" id=\"faq-69e4f9bbc9a1d\">\n          <div class=\"entry-content alignfull\">\n          \n                          <ul>\n<li>About 20% of young Canadians are living with a mental health problem or mental illness.\u00b2<\/li>\n<li>In 2020-2021, 8% of Quebec youths aged 15 to 19 reported having serious suicidal thoughts in the previous 12 months, a percentage that had doubled in five years.\u00b3<\/li>\n<li>In 2022, 25% of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth reported suicidal thoughts in the 12 months before they were surveyed, compared to 5% among cisgender and heterosexual youth.<sup>4<\/sup><\/li>\n<li>Young people who come out of the youth protection system are 10 times more likely to use mental health services.<sup>5<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n                                  <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n          <div class=\"faq-item accordion\">\n        <button class=\"faq-item__header accordion-toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-69e4f9bbc9b94\">\n          <p class=\"faq-item__title\">Homelessness<\/p>\n          <i class=\"icon icon-arrow-down\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <div class=\"faq-item__content accordion-content entry-content\" style=\"display:none;\" id=\"faq-69e4f9bbc9b94\">\n          <div class=\"entry-content alignfull\">\n          \n                          <ul>\n<li>Young adults aged 18 to 20 who are in a situation of homelessness are 40 times more likely to use mental health services.<sup>5<\/sup><\/li>\n<li>In 2022, nearly 59% of people experiencing visible homelessness reported having at least one mental health problem.<sup>6<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- wp:image {\"id\":26371,\"width\":407,\"height\":205,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\",\"align\":\"center\"} --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->                                  <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n          <div class=\"faq-item accordion\">\n        <button class=\"faq-item__header accordion-toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-69e4f9bbc9de2\">\n          <p class=\"faq-item__title\">Inequality<\/p>\n          <i class=\"icon icon-arrow-down\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <div class=\"faq-item__content accordion-content entry-content\" style=\"display:none;\" id=\"faq-69e4f9bbc9de2\">\n          <div class=\"entry-content alignfull\">\n          \n                          <ul>\n<li>Suicide disproportionately affects Indigenous peoples: according to the most recent national data available, suicide rates were approximately three times higher among First Nations and nine times higher among Inuit compared with the non\u2011Indigenous population.<sup>7<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n                                  <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <\/section>\n  \n\n\n<div style=\"height:37px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-little-title\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Our living conditions shape our mental health<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Mental health does not stem solely from our internal experiences. It builds up or breaks down over the course of our daily lives depending on our environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>Factors that support mental well-being:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Safe and affordable housing that makes people feel secure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A decent income that covers basic needs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Access to education and learning opportunities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meaningful employment that gives people a sense of worth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Green spaces and other places to take a break and unwind<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support networks and a connected community<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accessible services that are aligned with people\u2019s real needs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>Factors that weaken mental well-being:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Poverty and economic insecurity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Racism and discrimination<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gender-based violence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Immigration experiences characterized by instability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inherited trauma from colonial violence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:63px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:28% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"706\" height=\"644\" src=\"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image.png\" alt=\"Homme d\u00e9courag\u00e9e qui porte sa main au front et qui es assis sur un fauteuil\n\" class=\"wp-image-103351 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image.png 706w, https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-300x274.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 706px) 100vw, 706px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-little-title\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Interrelated challenges and growing needs<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In Greater Montreal, a number of intersecting issues\u2014the housing crisis, rising homelessness, economic insecurity, and social isolation\u2014have all contributed to a breakdown in mental health. Community agencies are getting more requests from both people living with mental health programs and their loved ones, who often provide important daily support and who themselves have significant needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The community sector is also under pressure. Chronic underfunding, difficult working conditions, and intensified needs have all taken a toll on the mental health of community workers, who are nevertheless essential in supporting individuals and communities.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-little-title\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>The central role of community agencies<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For decades, community agencies have been the backbone of mental health support. They provide spaces for peer support, offer help to family members, advocate for people\u2019s rights, and provide approaches that go beyond medical care. They look at the full scope of people\u2019s realities and get them to focus on their ability to make choices and regain control over their lives\u2014and they do so without judgment or stigma.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Centraide of Greater Montreal concretely supports about twenty mental health agencies in these networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:18px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center is-style-little-title\">\ud83e\udd1d Beyond funding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Centraide also helps spread the word about these issues by highlighting how mental health is closely linked to living conditions. Mental health is not solely an individual phenomenon: it is built collectively through communities that are just, supportive, and supported. Building mental health therefore requires concrete actions to fight poverty, guarantee access to decent housing, reduce social isolation, support marginalized communities, and provide services that are accessible, respectful and human-centred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:13px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><sub><strong>1. <strong>Mental Health Commission of Canada<\/strong><\/strong> (2020). <a href=\"https:\/\/commissionsantementale.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/la-nesessite-dinvestir-dans-la-sante-mentale-au-canada.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em><\/em><\/a><em><a href=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Investing_in_Mental_Health_FINAL_Version_ENG_0.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Making the Case for Investing in Mental Health in Canada<\/em><\/a><\/em><em>.<\/em> [PDF].<\/sub><br><sub><strong>2. Mental Health Commission of Canada<\/strong> (n.d.). <em><a href=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/children-and-youth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Children and Youth \u2013 What are we doing?<\/em><\/a><\/em> [Webpage].<\/sub><br><sub><strong>3. Institut de la statistique du Qu\u00e9bec (ISQ)<\/strong> (2021). <a href=\"https:\/\/statistique.quebec.ca\/fr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Id\u00e9es suicidaires s\u00e9rieuses et tentatives de suicide \u2013 Population \u00e2g\u00e9e de 15 \u00e0 29 ans<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em>[Webpage].<\/sub><br><sub><strong>4. Statistics Canada<\/strong> (2022). <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www23.statcan.gc.ca\/imdb\/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&amp;SDDS=5015\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Mental Health and Access to Care Survey (MHACS)<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/em>[Webpage].<\/sub><br><sub><strong>5. Chaire Jeunesse<\/strong> (2024). <a href=\"https:\/\/chairejeunesse.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SM-PJ-Novembre-2024_V27NovAM.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Sant\u00e9 mentale et jeunes issus de la protection de la jeunesse<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em> [PDF].<\/sub><br><sub><strong>6. Minist\u00e8re de la Sant\u00e9 et des Services sociaux du Qu\u00e9bec<\/strong> (2022). <a href=\"https:\/\/publications.msss.gouv.qc.ca\/msss\/document-003630\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Portrait de l\u2019itin\u00e9rance visible au Qu\u00e9bec<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em> [PDF].<\/sub><br><sub><strong>7. Statistics Canada (2019). <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/n1\/pub\/99-011-x\/99-011-x2019001-eng.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Suicide rates among First Nations and Inuit in Canada<\/em><\/a><strong>.<\/strong> [Webpage].<\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:27px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center is-style-middle-title\"><strong>1 out of 5 people receives our help. <br>5 out of 5 people benefit from it.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"block-stylised-title theme-block aligndefault\" id=\"block_053ebe9e741f887673351321c8ff19e0\" style=\"text-align: center\">                            <span class=\"block-stylised-title__line block-stylised-title__line--big-thin\"><b><font size=\"6\">Let&#8217;s all lend a hand<\/font><\/b><\/span>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:18px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons alignfull is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-499968f5 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-grey-background-color has-background has-large-font-size has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/secure.centraide-mtl.org\/registrant\/DonationPage.aspx?EventID=389613&amp;LangPref=en-CA&amp;Referrer=blogue\" style=\"border-radius:0px\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>DONATE<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Supporting a network of over 375 community agencies also means promoting an inclusive, poverty-free society.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Just like physical health, mental health is a key part of our overall well-being. It is greatly influenced by our living conditions and our social environment. In Greater Montreal, mental health issues are becoming more&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":21919,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"21079,21050,20750,21125,1126,21649","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[667,674],"tags":[679],"content-type":[493],"sector":[30,31,32,45],"class_list":["post-21925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mental-health","category-social-inclusion","tag-mental-health","content-type-articles-en","sector-laval","sector-rive-sud","sector-hors-territoire","sector-ile-de-montreal"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-26 11:50:19","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21925","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21925"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21925\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":103693,"href":"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21925\/revisions\/103693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21925"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21925"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21925"},{"taxonomy":"content-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-type?post=21925"},{"taxonomy":"sector","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sector?post=21925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}