Mental Illness Awareness Week 2007

October 1, 2007 (Toronto) - This year, Mental Illness Awareness Week (September 30 - October 7) takes place the week before the Ontario Provincial Election. This week the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)—a member of the Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Partnership--is urging all political parties to directly address the needs of the 20% of Ontarians who will experience mental illness in their lifetime.

In its election resource entitled, Ontario Election 2007: Focus on Addiction and Mental Health, the Partnership exhorts provincial leaders to provide strong mental health policy leadership in Ontario’s new regionalized health care system, target the harms of alcohol and other drugs through a Provincial Drug Strategy, and invest in supportive housing, consumer/survivor and family initiatives, as well as social supports.

Please visit www.camh.net, for a downloadable copy of Ontario Election 2007: Focus on Addiction and Mental Health and for further information on key provincial mental health and addiction election issues.

For more information, media 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 leading addiction and mental health teaching hospital. Integrating clinical care, scientific research, education, policy development and health promotion, CAMH transforms the lives of people impacted by mental health and addiction issues.