This week, May 7 to May 13, marks Mental Health Week, an initiative by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) to raise awareness of mental illness in Canada. It is the 61st year for the event.
The theme for 2012 is Mental Health for All, and the event will focus on five mental health topics: Workplace Mental Health; Resiliency at Home, at School, at Work; Stigma and Discrimination; Kids Have Stress, Too; and Mental Health is Everyone’s Concern.
“While we encourage Canadians to talk openly about their mental health any time during the year, Mental Health Week is the perfect time for people to learn about practical ways to maintain and improve their mental health and talk about mental illness,” said Peter Coleridge, national CEO of the CMHA. “It’s a time to reflect on our attitudes and behaviours toward people living with mental health problems in our schools, workplaces and at all levels in our society.”
The CMHA will be hosting community activities across the country, with a focus on helping Canadians to stay mentally and physically healthy. The CMHA’s B.C. division, for example, is launching a Living Life to the Full program. Originally developed by a British psychiatrist, this 12-hour, eight-week course helps people improve their moods, their feelings and their behaviours by offering practical advice and suggestions for making life more livable.
Community event listings, mental health fact sheets and other information can be found on CMHA’s Mental Health Week website at mentalhealthweek.ca.