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Event spotlights mental health

NANAIMO – Beyond the Blues is a free event to help recognize and prevent mental health problems.

As the leaves and thermostats fall, people’s moods can, too. That’s why October is good timing for mental illness awareness activities like Beyond the Blues: Education and Screening Days in order to recognize and help prevent mental health problems like depression and anxiety.

“People seem more ready to think about and talk about mental health in the fall,” said Sarah Hamid-Balma, director of mental health promotion for the Canadian Mental Health Association’s B.C. division and Beyond the Blues provincial coordinator. “Families are in the thick of school and work schedules and stresses are mounting. Daylight changes can affect routines, too. Cold bugs aren’t the only thing we should be thinking about keeping at bay – our mental immune system can use a boost, too, right about now.”

A Beyond the Blues event is scheduled for Nanaimo this Thursday (Oct. 15), 5-8 p.m. at the Beban Park social centre.

Topics to be covered include education, mental health and risky drinking screening, plus a special presentation by Kristen Berube on anxiety takes place 6:30-7:30 p.m.