More than one in 10 Canadians aged 15 and older said they always or often felt lonely when asked in the Canadian Social Survey between August and September.

According to the World Health Organization, loneliness can be as detrimental as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

"We're a social species. So we we thrive off social interactions and when we don't get those we're isolated and it just goes downhill from there," explained a Registered Provisional Psychologist at  Rebloom Community Health and Wellness, Halle Cockx.

Carlie Willimont, another Registered Provisional Psychologist at Rebloom Community Health and Wellness mentioned that mental health situations, such as being lonely came to life when the COVID-19 pandemic happened.

"I think that (the pandemic) showed us what being lonely can do for our body," explained Willimont. 

Willimont and Cockx explained that improving your mental health is as simple as getting some physical activity, getting outdoors, interacting with your friends, your family, your natural supports, and focusing on self-care. 

"Making sure we have a balance of all the things that we need. Physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual, and making sure that kind of we have a well-balanced life," said Cockx. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed with your mental health and need someone to chat with, Willimont and Cockx say it is as easy as giving them a phone call. 

"We're pretty, pretty open to whatever way you want to contact us. We're there for you. We can do phone consults to kind of get to know us and ask some questions first and then it is as easy as booking in," said Willimont. 

More information can be found on the Rebloom Community Health and Wellness website.

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