More than ever, mental health is critical, and raising awareness about the issue is a first step in people finding the help they need. As part of Mental Health Week, taking place May 3–9, a group of local service providers have collaborated on a campaign promoting mental health and wellness along with service information. Partners include the Huron Perth Addiction & Mental Health Alliance, Huron Perth Public Health, United Way Perth-Huron, the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board, the Avon Maitland District School Board, Rural Response for Healthy Children, North Huron/North Perth Family Health Team and Huron Community Family Health Team.
“This year’s Mental Health Week comes at an important time for our communities,” said Director of Research, Social Research & Planning Council for United Way Perth-Huron, Joelle Lamport-Lewis. “We are proud to join together with so many great local organizations to promote mental health and wellness, along with providing critical information about available services.”
As part of the events planned for the week, United Way’s Social Research and Planning Council (SRPC) is launching a report entitled, Forward Together: An integrated approach to Mental Health and Addictions in Huron Perth. The report aims to better understand the current mental health and addictions system in Huron Perth; inform community leaders about the achievements over the past eight years and collaborations underway to improve the system; identify outstanding challenges for Huron Perth residents; and review Ontario’s new Roadmap to Wellness: a plan to build Ontario’s mental health and addictions system. VIEW THE REPORT.
Other initiatives promoting mental health and wellness include the Huron-Perth Centre’s 14th annual Music & Art 4 Mental Health online showcase of art in all its forms marking Children’s Mental Health Week, May 3–7, and the Tanner Steffler Foundation is running their Champions Project and inviting nominations for local champions of mental health and wellness. The partner organizations are also launching a social media awareness campaign and creating a two-page information sheet for distribution through vaccination clinics across the region starting in June.
If you or someone you know needs help and doesn’t know where to start, call the Huron Perth Helpline & Crisis Response Team at 1-888-829-7484.