National AccessAbility Week, held from May 28 to June 3, 2023, is a time to celebrate the contributions of Canadians with disabilities and promote efforts to increase accessibility and inclusion in Canada. This year’s theme is “Disability Inclusion: From Possibilities to Practice.” We know that employment plays a key role in the recovery of individuals living with...
World Refugee Day offers a moment to reflect on the extraordinary resilience of families and individuals forced to flee their homes in search of a safer, better future. As a country, we must do more than offer physical asylum – we have an obligation to safeguard the mental health of those who turn to us...
During July, we’ve been celebrating Disability Pride Month. What started in the United States in 1990 has become a global movement of empowerment and visibility for those with disabilities. In 2017, 6.2 million people in Canada aged 15 or older had a disability. For mental health-related disabilities, the prevalence was just over 30%. At the...
Self-care should be part of your summer plans. Not just for International Self-Care Day (July 24) or Self-Care Month (June 24 to July 24), but every single day. For July and August, we’re encouraging you to put self-care on your daily agenda. It’s a broad term that encompasses everything from health promotion and disease prevention...
As we prepare to mark Remembrance Day, we encourage everyone to pause in grateful acknowledgment of the many sacrifices made by those who have served and those who continue to serve our country. We also ask people in the Veteran community to remember that mental health support is available. Since 2016, we have worked with...
The holiday season is a joyous season. There are a lot of opportunities to get together and celebrate with friends and loved ones. It can also be a stressful season, full of events and expectations. With so much going on, it can be easy to lose sight of yourself, letting self-care routines and other healthy...
“No one left behind: Equality, freedom and justice for all,” is this year’s International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia theme. In 2022, we and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction released data showing that 2SLGBTQ+ communities had been disproportionately affected by the pandemic due to increased social, political, and economic inequities. Such...
Paramedic Services Week (May 22-28) reminds us of the importance of promoting and protecting the mental health and well being of paramedics. They do invaluable work to keep us safe and are a critical community service. Paramedics are a unique hybrid of first responder and healthcare provider, two rigorous and demanding professions. Building their resiliency by implementing measures...
At the Mental Health Commission of Canada, we also see this month as an important reminder of our organizational commitment to reconciliation and cultural humility.
On Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day, it’s time to bust the stigma that discourages men from talking about their mental health and seeking help if problems emerge.
Every year in Canada, an estimated 4,000 people take their own lives. By working together, as friends, colleagues, grass roots organizations and elected officials, we can conquer the shame and stigma that have shadowed suicide for far too long. Being a champion for suicide prevention can be as simple as: Creating an effective suicide prevention...
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honours the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. You can learn more about TDOR from GLAAD: https://www.glaad.org/tdor Transgender (trans) people face unique stressors, including higher rates of harassment and discrimination, and, as a result,...
