Mental Illness Awareness Week Proclaimed

Newfoundland and Labrador is joining jurisdictions across the country in recognizing September 30 to October 6 as Mental Illness Awareness Week. The Provincial Government continues to make significant investments to enhance mental health and addictions services throughout the province.

“Our government is working to promote understanding of mental illness and addictions within our province through community partnerships, educational opportunities and awareness activities,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services. “One of the greatest challenges in advancing mental health awareness and acceptance is finding ways to address the stigma that is often attached to it. Mental Illness Awareness Week is designed to end the stigma associated with mental illness by encouraging individuals to share their experiences.”

Mental Illness Awareness Week is coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, a national network of organizations committed to supporting mental health needs of people throughout the country. One of Mental Illness Awareness Week’s major initiatives is the Faces of Mental Illness campaign, a national outreach campaign featuring the stories of Canadians living in recovery from mental illness.

For a listing of events taking place throughout the province in recognition of Mental Illness Awareness Week, please visit the Canadian Mental Health Association Newfoundland and Labrador Division website at: www.cmhanl.ca/.

“While a lot of progress is being made we must accept and recognize that many of us will experience a mental illness or an addiction," said Vince Withers, Chair of the Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Council. "It is important that we substantially increase our sensitivity and understanding for those who need our support."

Through Budget 2012: People and Prosperity, $15.5 million was allocated for the continued development of a treatment centre in Grand Falls-Windsor for youth with addictions, a treatment centre in Paradise for youth with complex mental health needs and an adult treatment centre in Harbour Grace. Construction of the youth treatment centres began in May 2012. Eastern Health has also recently awarded a contract for the planning and development of the adult addictions treatment centre in Harbour Grace. Two Requests for Proposals have also recently been issued for innovative programs focused on providing access to e-mental health services and a mass media awareness campaign.

Over the past three years, the Provincial Government has invested approximately $29 million to enhance mental health and addictions services throughout the province.

- 30 -

Photo: Mental Illness Awareness Week Proclamation Signing – Front row, left to right: Vince Withers, Chair, Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Council; Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services; and George Skinner, Canadian Mental Health Association, Newfoundland and Labrador Second row, left to right: Dave Banko, Schizophrenia Society of NL; Paula Corcoran, CHANNAL (Consumer Health Awareness Network of Newfoundland and Labrador); and Paul March, Eastern Health.

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

2012 10 02                                         9:35 a.m.