Eating disorders have the highest overall mortality rate of any mental illness — one in ten will not survive their disorder. Despite this sobering reality, eating disorders are poorly understood, inadequately treated, and underfunded. Many people living with eating disorders never receive a proper diagnosis. Of those who do, many do not have access to...
Our office is closed today for Family Day. This holiday is observed in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan. The third Monday in February is celebrated in Prince Edward Island as “Islander Day” and is observed in Manitoba as “Louis Riel Day”.
In 2020, the City of Toronto hosted the first Black Mental Health Day in partnership with TAIBU Community Health Centre. It is now observed annual on the first Monday of every March. But what started as a single day has already grown into a week. Black Mental Health Week is an initiative to highlight, support...
"Together always: united in diversity" 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 findings illustrate the need for...
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...
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.
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...