Get loud about mental health
National Mental Health Week celebrates CMHA 100th anniversary
In 2018 the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Part of the year-long celebrations includes its National Mental Health Week held from May 7-13. The theme this year is, Get Loud About What Mental Health Really Is.
One in five Canadians live with mental health problems, mental illnesses or addiction. On P.E.I., CMHA is planning a five-day challenge (Monday to Friday) with themes for each day. The challenge will include events such as Wear Green Day and Kindness Day. The Move for Mental Health Day on Wednesday, May 9, will feature Mental Health For All Walk and barbecue from 12 noon to 1:15 p.m. at the Boardwalk in Summerside with a barbecue to follow at Notre Dame Place Clubhouse on Duke Street, and in Alberton at the Hope Centre Clubhouse on College Street. Another walk and barbecue will be held at Confederation Landing Park in Charlottetown also on Wednesday.
CMHA/PEI past president, Judy Hughes, says Mental Health Week “is an opportunity to continue educating the public about the importance of good mental health and we are starting to see the impact this education is having. Recent surveys have said that more than 80 per cent of Canadians are more aware of mental health issues than they were five years ago.
That is a huge step in the right direction.
“More and more people are sharing their stories and are reaching out for help. The sooner people get help the better chance there is for a full recovery. Everyone deserves to feel well no matter what their mental health experience is.”
For the full list of Mental Health Week activities go to www.pei.cmha.ca and for Mental Health Week downloadable toolkits go to www.mentalhealthweek.ca.