Mental Illness Awareness Week - October Update

MIAW News - October 2008

Dear Supporter of Mental Illness Awareness Week:

Welcome to the October edition of the 2008 Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) newsletter.

In this month's newsletter:

Have you seen our ads? Send us a picture!

If you have seen MIAW ads featuring our 2008 Faces of Mental Illness in and around your city, please take a picture and send them to us! Some places where our ads can be found are: on billboards, buses (interior and exterior), in transit stations, restrooms, Canada Post retail outlets and in newspapers and magazines.

Photos can be emailed to jacqueline.haarsma@fleishman.ca with information on when and where you saw the ad.

Champions of Mental Health Awards

Five Champions awards honouring individuals from across Canada who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the mental health agenda in Canada will be presented at the Sixth Annual Champions of Mental Health Awards at the National Gallery in Ottawa on Tuesday October 7th.

Right Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
Champion - Public Sector
Stephen Harper is the first Prime Minister in the history of Canada to be so willing to talk about mental illness and mental health issues openly and with conviction. As a result of his actions, Canada is now undertaking major and transformative steps forward in the way we approach mental health. Mr. Harper has been selected to receive a Champions of Mental Health Award because of the leadership and vision his government demonstrated when they established the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and provided funding for the Mental Health and Homelessness Research Initiative.

Ms. Shelagh Rogers
CBC
Champion - Media
Shelagh Rogers, former host of CBC Radio's Sounds Like Canada, is recognized across Canada for her willingness to talk about mental health issues. Ms. Rogers has experienced and overcome depression, and speaks out about her illness to raise awareness about mental illness in Canada and inspire others to seek help. She also produced a radio series called "A Cruel Confusion" that exposed the challenges facing families of the mentally ill. Ms. Rogers is receiving a Champions of Mental Health Award for her advocacy towards mental illness and mental health issues, and her courage to speak openly about her illness on the national stage.

Ms. Mary Simon
President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Champion - Aboriginal
Mary Simon is the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national voice of Canada's Inuit. She has devoted her life's work towards gaining further recognition of Aboriginal rights and to achieving social justice for Inuit and other Aboriginal peoples nationally and internationally. Ms. Simon has contributed to the creation and promotion of a national strategy for mental health, an anti-stigma campaign, and a centre for learning through her role on the board of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. She is receiving a Champions of Mental Health Award for her invaluable contribution to advancing mental health issues facing Inuit communities.

Mr. Lloyd Craig
President & CEO, Coast Capital Savings
Champion - Private Sector
Lloyd Craig is the President & CEO of Coast Capital Savings Credit Union, Canada's second largest credit union. Mr. Craig's personal commitment to increase education and understanding of mental illnesses in the workplace has mobilized employers to take action on mental health issues. He has created an increased demand for mental health research in British Columbia, which prompted the provincial government to establish a Chair in Depression Research at UBC and a provincial business and economic roundtable on mental health. Mr. Craig is receiving a Champions of Mental Health Award for his outstanding leadership and advocacy of mental health in the private sector.

Dr. Alain LeSage
Centre de recherche Fernand-Seguin
Champion - Health
Dr. Alain LeSage is a researcher at the Centre de recherche Fernand-Seguin in Montreal, where he conducts research on etiology, prevention and treatment of severe mental illnesses. He has contributed significantly to evaluative, epidemiological and health services approaches for people with mental health issues. Dr. LeSage's involvement with the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry has helped put mental illness on the map. Dr. LeSage is receiving a Champions of Mental Health Award for his commitment to mental health research and helping Canadians dealing with mental illness to lead healthier and happier lives.

Thank you Supporters!

The generous support of our sponsors and supporters allows us to operate our website, provide hundreds of thousands of MIAW posters, bookmarks and brochures, run a growing advertising campaign which includes broadcast PSAs, billboard ads and transit advertising, and to host the Champions of Mental Health Awards. With tremendous support of MIAW 2008, we are well on track to reach in excess of 20 million people, a truly national campaign.

Once again, thank you for your support. MIAW runs exclusively on the funding and support we receive from our sponsors and contributors. They are: Canada Post Corporation (Platinum Plus), Fleishman-Hillard Canada, The Globe and Mail, (Platinum), Astra Zeneca (Silver), GlaxoSmithKline (Silver), Rogers Television (Silver), Vale Inco (Silver), Pfizer (Silver), Lamar Transit Advertising(Silver), Bell Canada (Bronze), Lilly (Bronze), Janssen-Ortho Inc.(Bronze), Rx&D (Bronze), VIA Rail Canada (Bronze), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Bronze), CN (Friends), Iris the Dragon Inc.(Friends), Tippet-Richardson Moving and Storage (Friends) and Upside Publishing and Productions (Friends).

Once again - thank you for your continued support! If you want to contribute in any way, please let me know.

National Director, Mental Illness Awareness Week
www.miaw-ssmm.ca