The Northwestern Health Unit is starting a survey on mental health.
The Northwest Health Unit announced the new initiative on Monday, advising that Northwestern Ontario residents may receive a call from Prairie Research Associates on their behalf to survey the public on mental health.
"What we are doing is surveying people across the region just to get a sense from everybody about their mental health status and concerns, so we can get a better understanding of how that might inform health unit programs, as well as, related programs around the region,” said Alex Berry, the health unit's manager of foundational standards and communication.
The health unit is looking to get 1,000 participants to ensure they have enough data to implement new educational strategies that are meant to help people cope with their mental health.
“Part of our mandate is to do mental health promotions. We don’t have any kind of treatment services, but we try to do some of the education around what helps people keep their mental health,” Berry said.
“We are looking to get a balance from people across the region, as well as, along the gender spectrum and at various ages.”
Berry added the survey is for people ages 12 and over, and will ask if residents identify as First Nations, Metis, or Inuit.
Berry said the data will be sent to healthcare providers across the region for their mental health promotions and a report will be posted on their website.
For those willing to take the survey, Prairie Research Associates will have two survey options available.
“People will get a phone call, but they are actually going to get an option of either answering the question in the phone call or getting redirected to do it online as well,” said Berry.
Prairie Research Associates will be randomly surveying over the next few weeks.
