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Press Releases

Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health Announce 2024 Mental Illness Awareness Week Theme - Access For All: Time For Action, Time For Change

OTTAWA, June 13, 2024 — The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is proud to once again lead Canada’s annual Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), a national public education campaign that aims to spotlight the barriers to accessing mental health and substance use health services for Canadians. 

Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health Launches 2024 Champions of Mental Health Campaign

OTTAWA, May 6, 2024 — The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is proud to announce the launch of nominations for the 2024 Champions of Mental Health Awards. This annual campaign acknowledges the importance of accessible and inclusive mental health and substance use health services through increased awareness and education.

CAMIMH Welcomes New Mental Health Funding and Calls for Further Government Action

OTTAWA, April 17, 2024 — The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) welcomes the federal government’s announcement to establish a multi-year Youth Mental Health Fund. This earmarked funding will assist in reducing wait times and expanding care options, enabling younger Canadians to access the essential mental health care they need. 

Canadians Give Governments an ‘F’ in Meeting Their Mental Health and Substance Use Health Needs: CAMIMH Poll

OTTAWA, January 18, 2024 — Federal and provincial governments are getting a resounding ‘F’ from Canadians when it comes to providing mental health and substance use health care services, according to the second annual National Report Card survey from the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH).

reportcard

Shutting Down Wellness Together Canada Bad Mental Health & Substance Use Health Policy

OTTAWA, February 22, 2024 — On February 8, 2024 the federal government announced it would stop funding and close the Wellness Together Canada (WTC) portal on April 3, 2024. WTC was originally created by the government in response to the COVID-19 health crisis. This decision puts an end to a low barrier, universal point of access to mental health and substance use health services.

Announcement of
2023 Champions of Mental Health 

 August 28, 2023 (Ottawa) — The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is pleased to announce
the winners of the 2023 Champions of Mental Health Awards. Please click below to read our press release. 

 The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health Announces New Co-Chairs 

 June 21, 2023 (Ottawa) — The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is pleased to announce
Co-Chairs of the Executive Committee, Florence Budden and Ellen Cohen. 

Budget Falls Short For Mental Health

April 6, 2023 (Ottawa) – The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) remains deeply disappointed that the federal government choose not to include a promised Canada Mental Health Transfer as part of Budget 2023.

Canadians Give Provinces Failing Grades on Access to Mental Health Services

 March 21, 2023 (OTTAWA)—In surveying Canadian residents who have accessed mental health services in the past year, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) found that the provinces received a collective grade of “D” in providing access to mental health professionals. View the full report here.

Federal Health Funding Offer Prioritizes Mental Health and Substance Use Health; Excludes Canada Mental Health Transfer

February 8, 2023 (OTTAWA)—The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is pleased to see that that the federal government’s health-care funding proposal to the provinces and territories identifies mental health and substance use health as a high priority.

 Investing in Mental Health Must be a High Priority for First Ministers 

 February 6, 2023 (OTTAWA)—Knowing that First Ministers will be meeting tomorrow to discuss the future of health care in Canada, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) calls on all leaders to ensure that investments in mental health and substance use health services remain a high priority. 

Sixty-five Organizations Call on Federal Government to Immediately Establish the Canada Mental Health Transfer

October 12, 2022 (OTTAWA)—Today, in an open letter to Minister Carolyn Bennett, Federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, sixty-five national health associations and related organizations call on the federal government to immediately establish the Canada Mental Health Transfer.

Announcement of 2022
Champions of Mental Health

August 4, 2022, OTTAWA— The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is proud to announce this year’s winners of the Champions of Mental Health Awards. This annual advocacy campaign celebrates seven exceptional Canadians who have worked to advance the mental health agenda in Canada. These exceptional individuals were nominated by peers, colleagues, friends, and community members for the impact they have had in mental health advocacy, both at the local, provincial, and national levels. A CAMIMH selection committee, comprised of CAMIMH members including health care providers and organizations that represent people with mental illness, their families and caregivers reviewed the submissions.

Timely Access to Mental Health Care Must be a Top Priority

April 11, 2022 (Ottawa) – In responding to the federal government’s 2022 Budget, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is supportive of the combination of health and social policy investments that improve access to virtual mental health care, promote substance use health and provide affordable housing for priority populations including Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and Veterans.

April 11, 2022 (Ottawa) – In responding to the federal government’s 2022 Budget, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is supportive of the combination of health and social policy investments that improve access to virtual mental health care, promote substance use health and provide affordable housing for priority populations including Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and Veterans.

Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health Launches 2022 Champions of Mental Health Campaign

April 26, 2022, OTTAWA—The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) has opened its online portal for nominations for the 2022 Champions of Mental Health Awards.

Now is the time for meaningful action on mental health and substance use health parity

December 8, 2021 (OTTAWA)—Today, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is calling on the federal government to take immediate, meaningful action by introducing legislation designed to expand access to publicly-funded mental health and substance use health programs and services with the launch of the Parity Pledge.

Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health Launches 2021 Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW)

OTTAWA—September 29, 2021—The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health is proud to launch the 2021 Mental Illness Awareness Week on October 3, 2021. 

Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and
Mental Health Announces 2021 Champions of Mental Health

OTTAWA — August 18, 2021—The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is pleased to announce this year’s winners of the Champions of Mental Health Awards.

Federal Leadership Essential to Expand Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Programs and Services

OTTAWA — June 21, 2021 — Well before the COVID-19 pandemic, timely access to accessible and inclusive mental health and substance use health programs and services in Canada has been a longstanding concern, with long wait times being more the rule than the exception.

Federal Leadership Essential to Expand
Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Programs and Services

June 17, 2021 (Ottawa) – Well before the COVID-19 pandemic, timely access to accessible and inclusive mental health and substance use health programs and services in Canada has been a longstanding concern, with long wait times being more the rule than the exception.

The Canadian Alliance On Mental Illness And Mental Health Announces New Co-Chair

June 2, 2021 (Ottawa)­—The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is pleased to announce that Kim Hollihan, EdD, has been named co-chair of CAMIMH.

Federal Budget is a Missed Opportunity for Mental Health

April 20, 2021 (Ottawa) – The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) appreciates the significance of yesterday’s federal budget, which identified a series of social, health and economic investments that can place Canada on the road to recovery from the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health announces new accessible website and the launch of the 2021 Champions Campaign 

OTTAWA, April 13, 2021 – Today, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is pleased to announce the launch of a new and improved website. Among the changes, CAMIMH is proud to be taking steps to improve the accessibility of their online information and resources by implementing AODA compliance standards, which will be fully available by year end.  

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