Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct 2-8th, 2011)

Clearly, I’ve been out of the loop. So stressed and overworked, I didn’t clue in to the fact that maybe one of the reasons why CTV is running such an excellent series on speaking out about suicide is the fact that this week is Mental Illness Awareness Week. As you know, I co-organize Mental Health Camp with one of my very best friends, professional counsellor and psychotherapist Isabella Mori. So, mental health issues, depression, suicide prevention are all keywords when it comes to worthy causes I champion.

More information about Mental Illness Awareness Week:

Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) is an annual national public education campaign designed to help open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness. The week was established in 1992 by the Canadian Psychiatric Association, and is now coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) in cooperation with all its member organizations and many other supporters across Canada.

Established in 1998, CAMIMH is an alliance of national organizations whose activities span the broad continuum of mental health. They represent: consumers and their families; health care and social service providers; professional associations; and community and research organizations. Together, they constitute a vibrant network of national, provincial and community-based organizations dedicated to serving the mental health needs of the people of Canada from coast to coast to coast. CAMIMH’s mission is to promote and facilitate the development, adoption, and implementation of a national action plan on mental illness and mental health.

I was reduced to tears by the amazing idea of the Faces of Mental Illness. Click here to read more about the Faces of Mental Illness 2011. What a courageous and brave group of individuals, who make us realize with their shared stories that mental illness is likely to touch EVERYONE of us at some point in our time, and that mental illnesses have a face too. They could be your friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, sister, brother, mother, father, coworker.

Nearly one in five Canadians is affected by mental illness, yet a persistent stigma prevents millions from getting the help they need. The continuing theme of Mental Illness Awareness Week – Face Mental Illness – is designed to change that. By sharing their stories, the courageous “faces” of our campaign are helping bring mental illness out from the shadows. Their experiences are proof that through proper diagnosis, treatment and awareness, people with mental illnesses can live productive and fulfilling lives.

Be Sociable, Share!