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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Trois-Rivières Committee Takes the Bite Out of Mental Illness

TROIS-RIVIÈRES (Date) - Trois-Rivières hopes to change the fortunes of people diagnosed with mental illnesses through an innovative education campaign that takes the bite out of the stigma associated with the disease.

Fortune cookies - that contain not proverbs or fortunes but a message about mental illness - will be given out at a poetry reading at 4 p.m. on October 4 at the Trois-Rivières Community Centre. The event is one of several being planned in the city for Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), which runs October 4-10.

"We're using the 8,000 fortune cookies as a vehicle to educate average citizens about mental illnesses," says John Doe, spokesperson for the Committee for Mental Illness Awareness in Trois-Rivières, which is organizing the initiative. "We hope the fortune cookies will grasp the attention of the population and contribute to a better understanding of mental illnesses."

Actress Jane Doe, official spokesperson for the MIAW events, will be on hand for the poetry reading. More than 100 people are expected to attend.

The fortune cookies will be distributed at the poetry reading and at other MIAW activities. These activities include information kiosks at the Trois-Rivières Mall throughout the week, and a dance at the Community Centre at 7 p.m. on October 10 to close out the week-long activities.

Dr. John Smith, chair of (organization) says, "With one in five Canadians experiencing a mental illness during their lifetime, it's crucial that we educate Canadians about the nature of mental illness to reduce the stigma associated with the disease. A number of myths have led to misunderstandings about mental illness, preventing many people from seeking and getting help when they need it."

One of MIAW's goals is to ensure future generations are not impeded by the stigma currently surrounding mental illness. Dr. Smith states more has to be done to ensure that Canadians suffering from serious mental illnesses get the care, support, treatment and rehabilitation they need.

MIAW is a public education campaign spearheaded by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH), with the support of thousands of mental health-care organizations and volunteers.  MIAW aims to promote discussion and informed decision-making about mental health issues.

The Committee for Mental Illness Awareness in Trois-Rivières, comprised of 12 hospitals and community groups, is a voluntary organization participating in MIAW.

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