In honour of the second annual Action Anxiety Day, our summer Community Engagement Contributor, Justine, interviewed the Anxiety Canada team. She asked us what the main goal of Action Anxiety Day is and what it means to us.
Thank you for making the second annual Action Anxiety Day a success! You made the choice to #ACTonAnxiety by helping us raise over $41,000 for anxiety management programs. You also showed action by signing our proclamation with more than 350+ new signatures.
On top of that, we received 16 proclamations from government agencies and had 32 landmarks light up in blue and/or orange in honour of #AAD22! We can’t wait to see all the illuminations for #AAD23 already!
What is the main goal of hosting Action Anxiety Day?
Judith, CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
“Action Anxiety Day is an opportunity for people to reflect on their own mental health and allow themselves to recognize when they, or people in their life, need support. Anxiety is normal and anxiety disorders are highly treatable. Action Anxiety Day is really the recognition that anxiety matters.
Action Anxiety Day also encourages people to explore the resources Anxiety Canada offers. I hope that, with Action Anxiety Day and through our fundraising efforts, we will be able to provide more MindShift CBT Groups and expand our treatment programs.”
“Anxiety is normal and anxiety disorders are highly treatable. Action Anxiety Day is really the recognition that anxiety matters.”
– Judith Law, CEO of Anxiety Canada
Kathleen, Content & Development Specialist
“Anxiety Canada created Action Anxiety Day to spread awareness about anxiety and anxiety disorders and raise funds for our anxiety management programs. Our organization strongly believes in accessible treatment for anxiety and offers programs, like the free MindShift CBT app and our MindShift CBT Groups at a reduced price.
With Action Anxiety Day, we want to make sure people know what we offer and how it can help them find relief.”
“I hope through Action Anxiety Day, Anxiety Canada becomes more widely known so that those struggling with anxiety are aware of the tools we provide.”
– Maxine Giannelli, Senior Manager of Development & Communications
Rebecca, Program Manager
“What I hope Action Anxiety Day does for the community is to simply let them know that Anxiety Canada exists. One day, I want to see every province participate in some way and every government agency acknowledge that this exists.
I’m hoping we can show people the good work that comes out of our small organization, so they feel inclined to donate. To continue offering understandable, easy-to-learn resources at minimal to no cost, we’re so dependent on donations.”
Pargol, Health Literacy Lead
“The purpose of Action Anxiety Day is to de-stigmatize anxiety and educate the public on how to recognize anxiety and support loved ones who may be struggling.
We also hope to continue providing a safe space to learn about anxiety. Anxiety Canada’s Podcast, #OurAnxietyStories, helps people learn about anxiety and feel less alone by hearing people from all walks of life share their anxiety experiences.”
“The primary goals of hosting Action Anxiety Day are helping people feel less alone in their anxiety and educating more people on what anxiety is and what it can look like.”
– Mark Antczak, Registered Clinical Counsellor and Clinical Educator for Anxiety Canada
Lisa, Office Manager
“I hope Action Anxiety Day will continue to increase anxiety awareness and show those struggling with anxiety that they are not alone. Anxiety Canada can help people understand more about anxiety in themselves and others.
There are so many effective resources, both free and at a reduced price, available from Anxiety Canada, such as the MindShift CBT app, our MindShift CBT Groups, the #OurAnxietyStories podcast, our online course My Anxiety Plan (MAP), and various worksheets and videos.”
Maxine, Senior Manager – Development & Communications
“Anxiety Canada has free tools that many people aren’t aware of. I actually found Anxiety Canada through My Anxiety Plan (MAP), an anxiety management program based on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).
I hope through Action Anxiety Day, Anxiety Canada becomes more widely known so that those struggling with anxiety are aware of the tools we provide.”
Mark, Registered Clinical Counsellor and Clinical Educator for Anxiety Canada
“The primary goals of hosting Action Anxiety Day are helping people feel less alone in their anxiety and educating more people on what anxiety is and what it can look like. Also, if we get enough individuals lobbying around this or acknowledging anxiety on this day, it may influence policy makers or those in government who can increase accessibility to resources that can help those struggling with anxiety.”
Action Anxiety Day may be over (until next year!), but you can still check out our special #AAD22 content!
- Father & Son Anxiety Talk: John Bateman shares his anxiety story and interviews his father, renowned artist Robert Bateman.
- Youth Network Roundtable with our Youth Ambassadors, Dr. Marlene Taube-Schiff & Canadian Sports Artist Dan Pietens.
- Guided Art Sketch with the Bateman Foundation: Learn to draw Robert Bateman’s Salt Spring Sheep and relax with guided nature meditation.
- Walking with Fear: Singer-songwriter Henry Lees released his song, “Walking with Fear,” on June 10th for Action Anxiety Day.
- Blog Post on a special donor: High school senior Sophia DeJesus created a cookbook & donated the proceeds to Anxiety Canada.
- Our new TikTok! Follow us to see our proclamation videos and more.
Thank you to our #AAD22 supporters!
Our partnership with Beneva helped make Action Anxiety Day a success. As our Healthy Thinking Partner, they supported our special #AAD22 programming and our anxiety management programs.
Action Anxiety Day is also supported by our generous sponsors, Point Blank Creative, Telus, Bateman Foundation and Barb’s Bakery & Bistro.
“We are on a mission to help prevent and manage anxiety with concrete steps, such as developing effective tools and innovative research programs on anxiety, and investing in organizations that help prevent and manage anxiety.”
– Beneva, our Healthy Thinking Partner