CMHA Peel Dufferin recognizes Mental Illness Awareness Week

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

MIAW is an annual national public education campaign coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH). CAMIMH’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. CMHA is an active member of CAMIMH and is proud to support its annual Faces of Mental Illness campaign during MIAW.

This year’s MIAW 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 #MIAW19. 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.

Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin (CMHA Peel Dufferin) is the leading community mental health and addictions services provider in the region. We support youth, adults and their families in the communities of Brampton, Caledon, Mississauga, Dufferin County, Rexdale, North Etobicoke and West Woodbridge.

We offer a variety of mental health programs and services and are dedicated to helping people recover from mental illness, build resiliency and participate in the life of the community. We are also committed to community development, mental health awareness and addressing the stigma surrounding mental illness.

CMHA Peel Dufferin offers 24.7 Crisis support to adults (16 years and over) experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis; individuals having difficulties coping; and family, caregivers and friends needing support. Our team of registered health professionals may also visit you where you are to provide support. Our crisis team may include mental health workers, nurses, social workers and specially trained plain-clothes police officers. We may also provide ongoing telephone support and connect you to others who can help.

For more information on mental health and mental illness, visit the CMHA Peel Dufferin program page.