Helping to create a civil society

“When we talk about civil societies, have we always included people with addiction and mental illness? I don’t think we have. I don’t think that we can have a civil society if we don’t treat people with these problems with the same respect, and give them the same investment that we give to other illnesses.”

Kelly Meighen
President,
The T.R. Meighen Family Foundation

"Those who fight addiction and mental illness face their problems in a world that is more complicated and unaccommodating than ever before.

"When first asked to become involved, I toured CAMH’s existing Queen Street site. I asked myself how it was possible that we allow some of the most vulnerable and ill people among us to be cared for in such depressing and outdated facilities.

"It occurred to me as I walked through the Queen Street buildings that if the facility were treating the physically ill, there would have been a revolt by patient advocates and concerned citizens long ago.

"The new facility is long overdue, and when built will be among the most innovative and progressive treatment facilities in the world. Just as importantly, it will be an example of how far we have come as a society in recognizing the legitimate rights of those fighting addiction and mental illness to live and get treatment “among us.”

"The CAMH redevelopment shows great progress in our assertion that we live in a civil society.

"It is a privilege to be able to support this project."

Transforming Lives Tomorrow

Because of stigma, mental illness and addiction seldom benefit from the philanthropic and volunteer leadership shown to other health-related causes. In addition to the transformative benefits of the T.R. Meighen Family Foundation’s gift to young people treated at CAMH, the Foundation’s strong public leadership will encourage others to provide support in the future - to minimize the long-term personal, economic and societal impacts of these disorders and to help demonstrate that mental illness and addiction are issues whose time has come.