Calgary, Alberta | Monday, September 9, 2013 |
David Goldbloom, Chair, Mental Health Commission of Canada Board of Directors, is pleased to announce the election of Manon Charbonneau, MD, to its Board of Directors.
Charbonneau is Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at the regional hospital of Sept-Îles, a rural and remote health centre on Quebec’s north shore about 650 kilometres northeast of Quebec City. She is also the Past President of the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) and currently the Chair of the CPA’s working group on the prevention of stigma and discrimination.
Charbonneau, a presenter at the 5th International Stigma Conference hosted by the MHCC in 2012, has also been forthcoming about her personal experiences with both cancer and depression.
“Through initiatives such as the MHCC’s anti-stigma campaign, Opening Minds, we are learning more about successful paths to reduce the stigma of mental illness,” says Charbonneau. “I am looking forward to working with the MHCC in a new capacity to continue to advance this important issue and ultimately reduce stigma and increase access to treatment for people who need it.” Charbonneau has also been closely involved with the Association des médecins psychiatres du Québec, the provincial psychiatric association. Over the course of the past fifteen years, she has been Vice-President, Secretary and has also chaired several committees.
She also served as a board member of the CPA for seven years.
“Manon is an experienced psychiatrist and a passionate public speaker who promotes mental health and draws attention to the stigma of mental illness,” says Goldbloom. “Stigma reduction is a key priority of the MHCC’s work and we are very pleased to have someone of Manon’s experience and expertise join the MHCC Board of Directors.”
Charbonneau’s efforts were also instrumental in restablishing the regional hospital of Sept-Îles as the first hospital centre in a remote area to be accredited and affiliated with l’Institut Universitaire de Montreal Louis-Hyppolite Lafontaine. As a result, the facility has been receiving psychiatry residents on a three-month rotational basis for the past 15 years.
Work in a remote area has brought Charbonneau into contact with a diverse, multilingual and multicultural population, including French and English-speaking Canadians, Métis, Innu, and Naskapi.
ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION OF CANADA
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a catalyst for change. We are collaborating with hundreds of partners to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems and to improve services and support. Our goal is to help people who live with mental health problems and illnesses lead meaningful and productive lives. Together we create change. The Mental Health Commission of Canada is funded by Health Canada.
www.mentalhealthcommission.ca | strategy.mentalhealthcommission.ca
Contact:
Kyle Marr, Senior Communication Specialist
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Office: 403-385‐4050
Mobile: 587-226‐8782
kmarr@mentalhealthcommission.ca
