Provincial Government Recognizes
Mental Health Week and National Awareness Campaign

Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador are being encouraged to start talking about mental health issues and to help break the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

Mental Health Week is an annual event held by the Canadian Mental Health Association that urges Canadians to learn, talk, reflect and engage with others on all issues relating to mental health. The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services, has signed a proclamation recognizing May 7 to May 13 as Mental Health Week.

“One in five Canadians, over the course of their lives, will experience a mental illness,” said Minister Sullivan. “The theme of Mental Health Week, Mental Health for All, suggests that good mental health is important for all of us and we need to continue to talk and learn more about mental health and its connection to overall health and well-being. The Provincial Government supports this and continues to make investments to enhance mental health and addictions services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.”

Community event listings, themed fact sheets and other helpful mental health information can be found on the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week website at www.mentalhealthweek.ca . 

The Provincial Government has also pledged its support for the national Not Myself Today campaign. Partners for Mental Health, a grass roots movement led by Senator Michael Kirby, began in April 2012 with the aim to redefine what it means to have a mental illness. The campaign is utilizing social media to create an online community that will advocate for change in the policies, programs and supports that exist for mental health and mental illness; it also challenges commonly-held beliefs about mental illness. Additional information on this campaign is available on the Partners for Mental Health Campaign website at www.partnersformh.ca/ . 

“Our government will continue to work to raise awareness of mental health issues in this province and enhance access to appropriate programs and services,” said Minister Sullivan. “We have shown a very strong commitment to mental health and addictions, in fact over the past three years we have invested approximately $29 million to enhance mental health and addictions services throughout the province. We, like Partners for Mental Health, recognize the importance of e-mental health initiatives in providing support and help to those who need it. Our e-mental health project announced in Budget 2011 is moving forward and we will be announcing the next stage in the near future.”

Budget 2012 - People and Prosperity: Responsible Investments for a Secure Future allocates $15.5 million for the continued development of the youth treatment centres in Grand Falls-Windsor and Paradise and the adult treatment centre in Harbour Grace. Through an investment of $180,000, the Provincial Government has recently provided grant funding to 10 mental health and addictions grass roots groups and individuals to support early interventions through community-based initiatives.

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Photo: The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services, along with members of the Canadian Mental Health Association, signs a proclamation recognizing May 7 to May 13 as Mental Health Week

Media contact:
Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 699-6524
jennifertulk@gov.nl.ca 

2012 05 09             9:50 a.m.