Need a source? Mental Illness Awareness Week: October 5-11, 2008

More than 20% of Ontarians will experience mental illness and substance abuse problems in their lifetime, yet many Canadians do not recognize that they are ill. Others don’t seek help because of misconceptions about these disorders.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), a leader in the research and treatment of addiction and mental illness, strives to educate the public and combat the stigma of mental illness.

October 5-11, 2008 marks Mental Illness Awareness Week, an annual national public education campaign designed to help open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness.

Mental Illness Awareness Week was established in 1992 by the Canadian Psychiatric Association, and is now coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health in cooperation with all its member organizations and many other supporters across Canada.

For more information about events in your area, please visit the Mental Illness Awareness Week website.

With a turbulent economy comes stress, making mental health a more important concern than ever. This week, clinicians in CAMH’s Work, Stress and Health Program are available for interviews regarding stress and anxiety brought on by workplace issues and the economy.

CAMH's Work, Stress and Health Program takes an evidence-based approach to treatment, with an emphasis on education, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and pharmacological interventions. The program also provides workplace consultation and training in collaboration with employers regarding occupational mental health issues.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Michael Torres, Media Relations, CAMH at 416 595 6015

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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world's leading research centres in the area of addiction and mental health. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues.

CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.