If you've made a trip to the Lacombe Centre Mall this week, you may have noticed a special display offering up some messages and resources in this Mental Illness Awareness Week.

It's estimated 1 in 5 of us will experience a mental illness sometime in our lifetime, yet there's still a lot of stigma associated with it.

Noreen Gillespie with Lacombe Mental Health says there's still more work to be done to create more awareness and understanding.

“If we can be respectful of people and that people aren’t intentionally trying to be mentally ill and that it’s not a sign of weakness or that they are lazy or if they just tried harder. That is sort of some of the most damaging messages because I can guarantee anybody that has ever had mental health challenges if they could feel better they would, and that they are doing the best they can”.

Positive support, removing that stigma, and moving to more open and honest conversations are extremely important on the road to recovery according to Gillespie.

In terms of maintaining good mental health, she says it comes down to meeting your basic needs.

“Adequate sleep is paramount; we are chronically sleep deprived as a society for lots of different reasons. Good nutrition, it’s kind of back to basics, the closer it comes from the earth and the less you can eat of refined foods. Regular exercise can help improve mood and decrease anxiety just because even physiologically what happens for the chemicals in your system when you exercise”.

Gillespie is a Children's Mental Health Therapist Liaison and notes children aren't immune to mental illness and more are suffering from anxiety.

She explains what to watch for if you suspect your child may be facing some challenges.

“When you see changes in behaviour that are atypical than what it was from before, you know a lot of times the kids when they are younger they can’t sort of say I’m worried about this or that, but they say my tummy hurts. If they start to want to avoid places or they don’t want to disconnect, than those can be signs”.

In terms of resources, Lacombe mental health has an adult team, a children's team, a senior's therapist, an addictions councillor and more.