Taking a serious look at our actions and acknowledging our flaws is challenging for most people. This is especially difficult regarding alcohol use where one drinker’s opinions of their own use can be entirely different from what their loved ones think. Here in Canada, we have a very open approach to alcohol….
Are you happy about a new job you just got? Celebration drinks!
Heartbroken? Let’s have some drinks to take your mind off it.
Stressed? Get a bottle of wine and take a bath.
*Insert any emotion here* Have a drink!
Alcohol can clearly serve many purposes and can be the gateway to social relationships. In problematic circumstances, drinking dangerous amounts of alcohol can be someone’s main coping mechanism for dealing with life stressors. This can be particularly true in parts of the world without adequate access to mental health resources or knowledge. Without the tools to properly regulate emotions, or the language to express emotions, alcohol may seem like an attractive way to block everything out. This, coupled with stigma around mental health and stereotypical beliefs about what it takes to be a “strong” person can be a recipe for disaster. Lastly, in some immigrant communities, mental health difficulties are seen as a “Western” problem which can prevent someone from seeking help. Growing up in an immigrant family and spending a lot of time with immigrants of various backgrounds, I have learned to be cautious of the word “stressed”.
I have heard “stressed” be used in replacement for “depressed”, “angry”, and “lonely”. I have heard “stressed” be used to justify neglecting family responsibilities and spending more energy acquiring alcohol. “Stressed” is the all-encompassing word that can be used to mask underlying mental disturbances and alcohol use problems. It can be used to cover up the shame a family member might feel about their loved one’s behaviours, or it can reinforce a blind spot a drinker might have about their behaviours.
I believe it’s time to pull the curtains back and tackle these problems head on. Along with researching the cultural context of alcohol use, I am passionate about knowledge translation and equipping immigrant communities with the language and resources they need to access addictions support. There has always been a need for culturally-competent mental health & addictions services, but this need is even greater during the pandemic. According to a Statistics Canada Survey (July 2020), recent immigrants are reporting fair or poor mental health more than other Canadians, and are more likely to report anxiety symptoms compared to other Canadians since the onset of the pandemic. As the pandemic continues, and race-related violence dominates news headlines, I urge us all to continue to genuinely check-in with our loved ones and not be ashamed to access support.
How am I feeling after all this? Stressed.
Nova Scotians looking for addictions support can go online or call 1-855-922-1122.
Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash
