MEET
Hey there! I'm MIRA. I'm a chatbot that uses artificial intelligence. I'm here to help provide you with information on mental health supports and services. I can also provide information on general or specific mental health related topics.
I can't give you medical advice and I'm not a counsellor. But I can help you figure out where to go to find care and support!
MIRA is intended for people in Canada who are looking for mental health information, supports, services, and next steps that may be relevant to their situation. It may also be useful for family members, caregivers, and professionals supporting someone who is navigating the mental health system. MIRA is designed to be anonymous and to connect users with resources that may fit their needs and preferences.
MIRA is not a crisis service, counselling service, or substitute for medical advice or clinical care. It should not be used to diagnose a mental health condition, make treatment decisions, or replace the judgment of a health professional. If someone is in immediate danger, thinking about suicide, or unable to stay safe, they should use emergency or crisis supports right away, including 911 for emergencies and 9-8-8 for mental health support in Canada.
MIRA is also not appropriate for situations that require urgent assessment, emergency intervention, or in-person care. It can help point people toward support, but it cannot assess safety or make decisions on someone's behalf, and it should not be treated as the only source of help in a serious mental health situation.
Improving lives through a patient-centred, integrated, accessible and efficient mental health navigation system that can support all Canadians regardless of where they are on the continuum of care.
1) Pearson, C. Janz, T. & Ali, J (last modified 2015) Mental and substance use disorders in Canada. Statistics Canada Catalogue # 82-624-X. Available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/ pub/82-624-x/2013001/article/11855-eng.htm
2) A. Sunderland and L. Findlay, "Perceived need for mental health care in Canada: Results from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health," Statistics Canada Catalogue, pp. no.82-003-X, 2013.
3) Moreno, C., Wykes, T., Galderisi, S., Nordentoft, M., Crossley, N., Jones, N. et al. How mental health care should change as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lancet Psychiatry (2020) 7(9): P813-824.
4) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, "Understanding the impact of alcohol on human health and well-being," National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, 2014; C. Simpson and J. Tucker, "Temporal sequencing of alcohol-related problems, problem recognition, and help-seeking episodes," Addictive Behaviors , vol. 27, p. 659–674, 2002; W. Narrow, D. Regier, D. Rae, et. al., "Use of services by persons with mental and addictive disorders. Findings from the National Institute of Mental Health Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program," Archives of General Psychiatry, vol. 50, p. 95–107, 1993; T. Wild, A. Roberts and E. Cooper, "Compulsory substance abuse treatment: An overview of recent findings and issues," European Addiction Research, vol. 8, p. 84–93, 2002; Mood Disorders Society of Canada, 2015 Pan-Canadian Survey Raises Warning Signs on Mental Health Services, 2015, Available here: https://mdsc.ca/research/2015-mental-health-care-system-survey-results/.
5) Sahebi A, Nejati-Zarnaqi B, Moayedi S, Yousefi K, Torres M and Golitaleb M, "The prevalence of anxiety and depression among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: An umbrella review of meta-analyses," Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry, vol. 107, p. 110247, 2021. PMID: 33476692 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Anxiety, feelings of depression and loneliness among Canadians spikes to highest levels since Spring 2020, CAMH, 2022. [Online]. https://www.camh.ca/en/camh-news-and-stories/anxiety-depression-loneliness-among-canadians-spikes-to-highest-levels. [Accessed 10 February, 2022]. CBC News, "Months of abuse, exhaustion have burnt-out nurses leaving their jobs," CBC News, 13 September 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1945590851847. [Accessed 15 September 2021].
6) Cabarkapa S, Nadjidai SE, Murgier J, Ng CH, The psychological impact of COVID-19 and other viral epidemics on frontline healthcare workers and ways to address it: A rapid systematic review, Brain, Behaviour, & Immunity - Health, 8 (2020) 100144.
7) Statistics Canada, "Canadian Internet Use Survey," Statistics Canada, 29 10 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily- quotidien/191029/dq191029a-eng.htm. [Accessed 27 03 2020]. Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, "Communications Monitoring Report 2016: Canada's Communication System: An Overview for Canadians," CRTC, Ottawa, 2016.
