Health and Community Services
October 9, 2014
Supporting Mental Health Services for Families and Communities
World Mental Health Day Aims to Raise Awareness of Mental Health Issues
In support of global education, awareness and advocacy, October 10 is being recognized as World Mental Health Day.
“World Mental Health Day provides an opportunity to encourage discussions and improve advocacy around mental illness and addictions in our province and to help reduce the stigma that exists. The Understanding Changes Everything campaign is helping change the way many people think about mental illness and addiction and we are proud to build on the campaign with the addition of a new television commercial this week.”
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Minister of Health and Community Services
October 5-11 also marks Mental Illness Awareness Week which is an annual, national public education campaign coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health. One of the major initiatives of the week is the Faces of Mental Illness campaign, a national outreach campaign featuring the stories of Canadians living in recovery from mental illness.
“It is imperative that those living with mental illness and their families have access to timely and appropriate care and supports. We continue to support mental health and addictions programs and services and are investing in new infrastructure such as the two recently opened youth treatment centres in Grand Falls-Windsor and Paradise which will ensure residents are able to get the help they need right here in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
- Minister Kent
Understanding Changes Everything is a three-year campaign that consists of television commercials, online and cinema advertising, as well as promotion through social media, including Facebook and Twitter. The campaign was first launched in May 2014 and is being further strengthened with the introduction of a new television commercial. For more information, please visit www.understandnow.ca/ 
QUICK FACTS
- In support of global education, awareness and advocacy, October 10 is being recognized as World Mental Health Day.
- Understanding Changes Everything is a three-year campaign that consists of television commercials, online and cinema advertising, as well as promotion through social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
- The campaign was first launched in May 2014 and is being further strengthened with the introduction of a new television commercial.
- October 5-11 also marks Mental Illness Awareness Week which is an annual, national public education campaign coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health.
- The Provincial Government invests approximately $100 million annually for mental health and addictions services provided by the four regional health authorities.
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Media contact:
| Heather MacLean Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 697-4137 heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca |
2014 10 09 12:15 p.m.