Commemorating Mental Illness Awareness Week

The first week of October brings with it the reminder that millions of Canadians live with mental illnesses every day.

October 1 through 7 is Mental Illness Awareness Week (M.I.A.W.), an annual national public education campaign coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (C.A.M.I.M.H.). C.A.M.I.M.H.’s mandate is to ensure that mental illness and mental health are placed on the national agenda so that Canadians receive appropriate access to care and support. C.M.H.A. is an active member of C.A.M.I.M.H. and is proud to support its annual Faces of Mental Illness campaign during M.I.A.W..

This year’s M.I.A.W. encourages Canadians to spread awareness and reduce all forms of stigma around mental illness by sharing their personal stories and joining the conversation online using the hashtag #MIAW18. As mental illness directly and indirectly affects more than six million people across the country, the campaign encourages Canadians to engage in a discussion on the need to end societal stigmatization of mental illness and call for increased access to mental health services for all Canadians.

C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. is pleased to offer a variety of programs and services for those with mental health concerns or mental illnesses. To learn more, click here.

If you are in crisis and need help now, call Four County Crisis at 705-745-6484 or toll-free at 1-866-995-9933.