[Article] Cultivating Healthy Relationships

Cultivating Healthy Relationships 

By Kimberly Brathwaite, Communications and Awareness Manager 

Cultivating healthy relationships is a key factor in your mental health and wellness journey. These relationships can be with family, friends, neighbours and and other people that you meet in your daily life. The common denominator is that they encourage engagement and opportunities to share special moments with each other. 

We recognize that developing relationships could be a challenge, and that some people may need a little bit of support to help them connect with others. It is also important to recognize that our interactions have changed dramatically since the pandemic, for a period of time everyone was told to stay home and stay at least six feet away from each other. This was even more serious for those of us who are at a higher risk of severe illness. That transition was difficult for everyone, since connecting with others is human nature. Now that we are living in a world beyond the pandemic, many are trying to get back to normal. As we return to many of our previous activities,some people are feeling anxiety and stress and need to learn how to rebuild or develop new relationships in a safe environment. 

There are lots of resources available that can help all of us to improve our mental health and wellbeing, it is also important for people to take their time and make changes when they are comfortable, as this will encourage positive and lasting outcomes. 

Here are a few tips that will help you to reconnect: 

• Virtual book club. If you aren’t ready to meet people in-person, read a good book and have a lively conversation about it online.  
• Think outside the box. Sign up to try an activity like painting or yoga. Learning something new with like-minded people is also great. 
• Talk to a counsellor or peer. It’s OK to seek out support from a counsellor or join a peer-support group to help you along your wellness journey.   

There are many ways to improve existing relationships and to develop new ones and Wellness Together Canada (WTC) is here to help. WTC is a free virtual mental health and substance use program designed to support people living in Canada, and Canadians abroad with 24/7 access to barrier free resources - all at no cost.  

WTC also recently launched two new service providers this summer to provide additional support to those who need it wherever they are.  

• National Overdose Response Services 
• Lifewise - Individual Support 
• Lifewise - Family Peer Support 

Recognizing that June 27th is National PTSD Awareness Day, resources for understanding and coping with the symptoms of trauma are also available. This includes self-assessments if you are concerned you are experiencing PTSD, as well as a number of self-led courses, which can also support wellness and healthy relationships with others. 

Wellness Together Canada is funded by Health Canada and offers a range of mental health and substance use support including, access to educational content, self-guided courses, peer-to-peer support, one-to-one sessions with professional counsellors, and crisis support. For more information visit: wellnesstogether.ca