Media Roundtable: Making Mental Health and Addictions an Election Issue

Alliance of provincial groups come together to mobilize grassroots for Ontario election

WHAT: For the first time, ten provincial mental health and addictions groups are joining forces to mobilize voters to put mental health and addictions on the Ontario election agenda. With more than 2.5 million Ontarians directly affected by mental illnesses and addictions – and many more millions affected as family members, friends and co-workers – political candidates across the province can expect to regularly hear demands for action.

Members of the Mental Health & Addictions Alliance of Ontario will host a media roundtable to release its election platform and discuss highlights: the current mental health crisis; inequitable access to care across Ontario; government leadership; and, voter mobilization.

WHO: Dr. Catherine Zahn, President and CEO, CAMH

Mary Alberti, President and CEO, Schizophrenia Society of Ontario

Dennis Long, Board Member, Addictions Ontario

Lorne Zon, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario

WHEN: Tuesday, May 31, 2011

11 a.m. to noon

WHERE: Simon Apartments, supportive housing

32 Grenville St. (one street north of College, between Yonge and Bay). Street parking available. Parking lot nearby.

INTERVIEWS: Representatives from all ten member groups of the Mental Health & Addictions Alliance will be available at the media roundtable for interviews.

To RSVP, or for more information, please contact: Michael Torres, CAMH Media Relations; 416-595-6015 or via email; media@camh.net

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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. For more information, please visit www.camh.net.