Projects & resources for the general public
Community Information Forums
"There is Help … There is Hope" Community Information Forums on Addiction and Mental Health are a series of educational evenings
offering greater understanding of emerging mental health and addiction issues, treatments and healthy living strategies.
The forums are held once a month between October and May at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, ARF Site, 33 Russell
Street, Toronto, Ontario, between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Admission is free of charge. Registration is not required and seating
is on a first come basis.
For people living outside the GTA, CAMH will soon be offering the Community Information Forums in an online format - please
visit us again to sample this learning opportunity and find out about other new developments, including a schedule of Community
Forums outside of the GTA.
Pamela Fralick Community Education Forums
An annual Community Information Forum on Addiction named in honour of Pamela Fralick, the former Chair of CAMH's Board of
Trustees. This year's inaugural forum, "Youth, Drugs and Alcohol: Helping Parents Mange the Risks" will take place on Wendesday,
February 18 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in London, Ontario. Click here for more information.
R. Samuel McLaughlin Addiction and Mental Health Information Centre
A central source of information and support regarding addiction and mental health issues, the.McLaughlin Information Centre
responds to the critical need for access to credible information on mental health and addiction issues, services and resources.
Virtual Party
Virtual Party is an educational web site for teenagers dealing with healthy choices and harm reduction regarding alcohol use,
drugs and mental health. The resource is an interactive game simulating a party situation wherein the user is able to choose
a character, and make several decisions regarding their activities throughout a "virtual" evening. The story depicts a variety
of outcomes, based on those choices. Information boxes offer harm reduction and safety advice on topics such as binge drinking,
host liability, drinking and driving, and drinking and dating, issues with other drugs including ecstasy and "shrooms", as
well as mental health problems including psychosis, eating disorders and depression.
Workplace Health Education
Initiatives which target the workplace as both a venue for education as well as an opportunity to focus discussion on the
impact of mental health or addiction problems in the workplace. This program is in development. For additional information
on workplace health issues, visit the Corporate Leaders Program through the CAMH Foundation. Click here for more information.
Media Campaigns
In an effort to reach an increasingly wider audience, CAMH uses print media to raise awareness about depression and alcohol.
A report highlighting the results of these campaigns is available at (link to word file: final report - alcohol and depression.)
PDF's of the ads can be found at http://www.thereishelp.org
We All Belong Campaign
The We All Belong campaign is a region-wide initiative in Northeastern Ontario with partners:
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Canadian Mental Health Association - Ontario Division
- Canadian Mental Health Association - Northeaster Branches
- Northeast Mental Health Centre
- North East Ontario Network
- Nipissing University
- Muskoka/ParrySound Community Mental Health Services
The We All Belong campaign is expected to increase awareness of mental health reforms in the northeast and increase sensitivity
of the needs of those community members experiencing mental illness. This campaign embraces many of the best practices in
changing attitudes and behaviors by creating opportunities for increased contact with people who have had experience with
mental illness, and by utilizing a targeted approach by segmenting audiences such as employers, housing providers, mental
health service providers, and government officials. Interest in and requests for presentations has grown significantly over
the last year. Visit the campaign at www.weallbelong.ca.
Film Festivals
Shadows of the Mind Film Festival in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and Visions & Light Film Festival in Thunder Bay are excellent
examples of ways to educate and influence public understanding about mental illness through creative expression. Films and
art exhibits with themes related to mental illness provide an opportunity to create a dialogue and this year, more than 3000
people combined attended the events in both communities. Further information on Shadows of the Mind Film Festival can be
found at http://www.shadowsfilmfest.com and information Visions & Light at www.visionsandlight.com
Workman Theatre Project
Since its bold launch in 1991, the Workman Theatre Project (WTP) has become known for putting a human face on mental health
issues, by producing professional theatre that not only focuses on mental health but is staged by a company comprised of professional
actors and people who receive mental health services. This unique arts company has attracted national and international attention.
Based at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, WTP has performed to audiences in Canada and has connected to the rest
of the world through its international festivals such as Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival and Madness and Arts 2003 World
Festival. The Madness and Arts 2003 World Festival was the first international initiative which brought together actors, dancers,
musicians and painters from around the world and featured art exhibits, theatre, music, dance, lectures, workshops, and panel
discussions with 185 artists and academics from nine countries and succeeded in reaching over 10,000 people in its first year.
Visit the WTP at http://www.workmantheatre.com/
Exhibits, displays, speaking engagements
Requests for exhibits, displays and speaking engagements should be directed to the R. Samuel McLaughlin Addiction and Mental Health Information Centre at 1 800 463 6273 or in Toronto, 416 595 6111.
Centre for Addiction
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