#MIAW20: There is no health without mental health

Each October, people across Canada speak up for Mental Illness Awareness Week. This year, it is being marked from October 4 –10. It’s a week of public education and awareness that encourages Canadians to learn about mental illness and share their experiences with it.

This year’s theme for Mental Illness Awareness Week is There is no health without mental health.

The pandemic has brought on new challenges and highlighted existing struggles that Canadians face. All people in Canada deserve timely and effective mental health supports. And as COVID-19 continues to put a strain on our communities, we need to prioritize mental healthcare now more than ever.

CMHA is a proud member of Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH), which hosts Mental Illness Awareness Week.

CAMIMH’s Faces of Mental Illness is an essential part of the week. Each year, five individuals from all walks of life are selected and celebrated for their personal experiences of mental illness, their advocacy work and their recovery story.

This year’s Faces of Mental Illness are Karandeep Gill, Caroline Fei-Yeng Kwok, Keith Lyon, Lydia Migneault and Nick Petrella. You can read more about the Faces of Mental Illness here. You can also view the video here.

Join the conversation this Mental Illness Awareness Week with the hashtag #MIAW20 on social media.