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Mental Health

Mental Health in NCR

The MFS-NCR Family Mental Health Team offers trauma-informed, strength-based counselling. We provide confidential mental health support to adults, children, youth, and couples through in-person or virtual services including video or phone.

Mental Health Articles from our e-newsletter can help you explore your own mental health journey. Subscribe to the monthly newsletter here. 

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Counselling may be provided for support around, but not limited to couples communication, family stressors, depression and anxiety, trauma, or grief and loss. Our mental health team appreciates the complexities that come with the military family journey and are uniquely positioned to provide tailored support. Services are free and offered in both official languages.

Our team also has a dedicated Family Counsellor connected with the Military Transition Centre to support families of the fallen and to families coping with all phases of a military member’s recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration. We can also provide referrals to other professional community resources or connect families to workshops and support groups to best support your needs. 

Coping and Counselling Myths - Debunked

Here are some common beliefs - click on each to see the reality.

  • If I push my feelings or issues to the back of my mind, they will go away or resolve themselves.
    FALSE: Pushing feelings down is like adding more clothes to your rucksack – eventually you run out of room and the bag will rip under the strain. Accessing counselling will help remove and/or dispose of those clothes in a healthy fashion.
  • Crying is a weakness.
    FALSE: Crying can be a positive thing, it can help you. It acknowledges the feelings you’re
    experiencing. It is a self-soothing behavior that releases oxytocin and a number of endorphins which reduce stress.
     
  • If I see a mental health professional, it means that I am crazy or there is something wrong with me.
    FALSE: Imagine that you have an Aston Martin and it broke down. You would take it to the mechanic to have it repaired, and once it was in working order, you’d be quite pleased and show it off. There is no shame in taking a car to the mechanic. You are that Aston Martin, and like the car, once in a while you require a tune-up. We all do!

    Going for that tune-up is a sign of strength and shows that you care about yourself and your well-being. When you’re healthy, you can be there for your loved ones. When you’re not feeling balanced, your ability to support others is reduced.
     
  • My counsellor will fix me, my spouse or my child.
    FALSE: The goal of counselling is to support the client in achieving their needs and goals.

    The clinician’s responsibility is to create an individualized care plan. The counsellor’s main role is to assess needs, listen, provide tools and guide the client towards critical thinking and introspection. It is important to highlight that this is a collaborative process between the client and the clinician.

     
  • People only go to couples counselling when they are about to break up.
    FALSE: Although couples counselling can be used as a means to end a relationship in a positive manner, it can also be used as a proactive approach to revitalize your relationship through the use of new tools and strategies.

How to recognize when you may need to seek mental health support

If you notice that you or your loved one is not behaving in the same way that they used to (change in temperament, attitude, behaviour, etc.), mental health services may be the support you need. Furthermore, checking in with your doctor is extremely important to ensure that you are in good health. Mental health concerns and health issues can masquerade as each other. Below is a list of signs and symptoms that may outline when you should seek mental health services.

  • If you have medical symptoms that your doctor cannot diagnose. Physicians will often refer clients to a mental health professional at this point. Our brains and body are connected and anxiety may present itself as panic attacks, chest pain, bowel issues resembling IBS in some cases, etc.
  • If you feel stuck in your situation and cannot figure out what to do next. Seeing a mental health professional can help provide you with a different perspective and coping tools to achieve a more harmonious sense of being.
  • If you begin to notice that your relationship is becoming increasingly conflictual or feel concerned about one or multiple aspects of your relationship.
  • If you feel emotionally dysregulated. A mental health professional can help you understand what your needs are. In some cases, a referral to an external party for additional support may be necessary.
  • If you have lost a loved one.
  •  If you are currently or have experienced a violent or controlling relationship
  •  If you have experienced trauma.
  •  If you have a diagnosis and are seeking to obtain tools to help you understand and cope with it.
  •  If you have an addiction.
  •  If a loved one has an addiction.
  •  If you are experiencing overall unhappiness with your life.
  •  If you have relocated to a new town with or without your partner and are feeling isolated and depressed.
  •  If your child is experiencing behavioural changes (physically, emotionally or mentally).
  •  If you are looking for parenting/co-parenting tools or support (expecting a new child, blended families, etc.).

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