As Mental Health Week is marked across Canada, the Tanner Steffler Foundation is using this time to encourage open conversations, support one another, and reduce the stigma around mental health in Huron County.
Taylor Jones, a Youth Peer Mentor and Engagement Coordinator with the foundation, says this week is a chance to reflect, speak out, and remind people that mental health matters.
Mental Health Week is a time to focus on how we can all be more open, supportive, and informed when it comes to mental health.
Jones explained that talking about mental health is especially important in small communities, where people may feel alone or unsure about how to get help.
He noted that silence can be a persons worse enemy.
Over the years, Jones has seen positive changes. Conversations that once felt impossible in places like his hometown are now becoming normal.
The Tanner Steffler Foundation offers several supports for people struggling with mental health or substance use.
Programs like SafeTALK and ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) help community members learn how to have tough conversations, including how to talk about suicide. The foundation also provides free naloxone training to help prevent opioid overdoses.
For anyone struggling in silence, Jones had this message.
More information about the Tanner Steffler Foundation and its programs is available online. This Mental Health Week, take the time to check in with yourself and others—it could make all the difference.