CMHA is shining a spotlight on what it terms the "urgent need for universal mental health care" during Mental Health Week.
Events during the week will focus on stories, faces and voices of mental health says a news release, as it hosts a series of local events as part of the 72nd annual CMHA Mental Health Week.
This year’s theme is My Story and the campaign, which runs until May 7, also aims to draw attention to the urgent need for universal mental health care.
In a recent national survey conducted for CMHA, 87 per cent of the people polled agreed that Canadians should have access to free, publicly funded mental health care. Regionally, 37 per cent of survey participants from Ontario reported having experienced a mental health concern in the past year, yet 45 per cent said they did not reach out for help because it was too expensive.
“We hear stories from people across the country every day that services are hard to find and not available to everyone,” said Margaret Eaton, CEO of CMHA National.
In the context of healthcare, mental health should be given the same level of priority as physical health, said Mary Davis, CEO of CMHA North Bay and District.
Local public events include:
TUESDAY, MAY 2
- A flag-raising and official proclamation of CMHA Mental Health Week at North Bay City Hall (10:30-11 a.m.)
THURSDAY, May 4
- A free community BBQ at the Mattawa drop-in centre, 150 Water St.
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK:
- In-person and online workshops focusing on creative forms of storytelling:
- A special Mental Health Week-themed edition of the VOX Choir drop-in singing group where participants will learn and perform Time after Time (Tuesday, May 2)
- A Healthy Journaling workshop hosted by Métis Nation of Ontario (Thursday, May 4)
See the events calendar here.
