Knowledge is not only power, but it will save your life. Navigating health services and reaching out for help is the first brave step towards mental and physical wellness. Therapy and rehabilitation increases awareness about the body and mind.

Whether you suffer from anxiety, depression, addiction, a sports injury or body pain, there’s a treatment accessible to you. “Finding the right help at the right time isn’t always easy, but recovery is real. Everyday you’re surrounded by people who’ve been successfully treated for a mental illness and you just don’t realize it,” says Bev Gutray, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division.

Finding your voice

There’s strength in communicating that you have a problem that needs to be solved. Mental health consists of finding stability in every aspect of life: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. “People achieve the results they seek,” says Dr. Nicola Bird, founder of Self-Imaging Therapy, a transformational approach to psychotherapy which allows patients to gain insight and personal power by making changes from the inside out.

“Healthy activities make us feel good and are good practice whether you have a mental illness or not.”

Some mental illnesses respond very well to medication, but can also be coupled with self-help strategies and therapies such as: exercise, meditation, community service, social connections, cognitive-behaviour therapy, traditional talk therapy, cognitive therapy, and group therapy. The treatment plan varies depending on the individual. “Healthy activities make us feel good and are good practice whether you have a mental illness or not,” states Gutray.

Utilize your resources

With the click of a mouse, a wide range of information is at your fingertips, but it also can be misleading. “There are some ways to do your homework. Talk to alumni, go for a site visit and ask professionals who have seen many centres. A good treatment program will lay the foundation for recovery by facilitating a proper history and multiple assessments,” affirms Michael Welsh, President & CEO, National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers.

Some addiction treatments include: withdrawal management, counselling and aftercare. “Depending on the level of readiness, the results of single episodes of treatment range between 10 to 70% at 1 year post treatment,” says Dr. Peter Selby, Chief of Addictions at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Discover the power within

Maintenance of your physical health is a vital component of overall wellness. “It’s important to seek treatment as early as possible to prevent pain from becoming chronic,” declares Dr. Nekessa Remy, a member of the Canadian Chiropractic Association.

Therapies such as: laser therapy, acupuncture, chronic care, sports physiotherapy are various treatments which help recovery after injury. Physiotherapists, chiropractors and massage therapists are wellness advocates who understand firsthand the importance of mobility related issues and can help you take charge of your health.

The benefits can be life changing, allowing patients to move pain and injury free,” Allison Ezzat, a member of the Physiotherapy Association of BC, says.