73rd annual CMHA Mental Health Week, which runs from May 6-12, will serve up a “double-double” of kindness and compassion in our community.
This year’s theme for CMHA Mental Health Week is “Be Kind” and centres on the idea that compassion connects us all.
The Canadian Mental Health Association, North Bay and District and community partners will offer events and activities throughout the week to amplify mental health awareness, shift attitudes and perceptions, and encourage people to practice compassion, care and kindness.
The week will also mark the debut of a new annual community campaign led by CMHA North Bay and District, The Kindness Project.
“We were already developing the concept for The Kindness Project when our national office announced the theme for this year’s Mental Health Week, which aligns perfectly with the Project’s goals,” said Mary Davis, CEO of CMHA North Bay and District. “It’s like a double- double – two complementary initiatives coming together to have more reach and create greater impact.”
In times like these, when Canadians face worrying levels of stress and anxiety – heightened by issues such as social inequality, affordability, political divisiveness, and the climate crisis – kindness is more relevant than ever," Davis added.
Compassion is also something that can be learned, she said, and there are positive mental health benefits associated with it.
Research shows compassion can:
- Increase feelings of happiness
- Be soothing and calming
- Increase trust and connection
- Improve emotional resilience
- Ease depression
“Giving, receiving, or observing acts of kindness is proven to support and maintain our mental health, which is part of our overall health and well-being,” Davis said. “Let’s celebrate the kind things people are out there doing every day for others, the community and themselves!”
Partners in Mental Health Week 2024 are North Bay Regional Health Centre, Clark Communications, City of North Bay, District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board, Nipissing Wellness OHT, and Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca.
Highlights of CMHA Mental Health Week 2024 include:
MONDAY, MAY 6 – A flag-raising and official proclamation at City Hall (10:30-11 a.m.) followed by a cupcake giveaway to get the wave of kindness started in the community! At 7:30 p.m., join the Light Up for Kindness ceremony and come sing “Lean on Me” with our children’s choir.
TUESDAY, MAY 7 – Zumba with Rox outside City Hall (10-11 a.m.). Inside, the District of Nipissing Social Services Administrative Board invites visitors to the main floor of City Hall to enjoy some tunes and popcorn (2-3:30 p.m.).
WEDNESDAY, May 8 – An education day for health and human services professionals, hosted by North Bay Regional Health Centre. Visitors, patients and staff can drop by the Kindness Zone (main level, just past Tim Hortons) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to share inspirational messages on a Kindness Wall and spin a Kindness Wheel.
THURSDAY, MAY 9 – CMHA North Bay and District offers service users a pet therapy experience. Kindness to Critters – a social media campaign aimed at supporting local animal welfare initiatives as well as the impact of being kind to animals and ways to do it.
FRIDAY, MAY 10 – Ribbon-cutting ceremony (10:30 am) and open house (11 a.m.) followed by a complimentary BBQ lunch (12 - 1:30 p.m.) at CMHA North Bay and District’s new Peer Connections and Support Services location,194 Main St. West.
