CMHA Ottawa 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.

Oct 6-12 is Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), 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.

CMHA Ottawa is committed to providing direct services and supports for eligible individuals in the city of Ottawa who are experiencing mental health challenges.

For more information on mental health and mental illness, visit the CMHA Ottawa services page here.