A familiar face during Mental Illness Awareness Week - In the News
Mohawk Professor among CAMIMH Faces of Mental Illness 2020
Mohawk College Professor Nick Petrella will serve as a national ambassador for mental illness awareness in the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) Faces of Mental Illness campaign for 2020/21.
In an announcement made this week, CAMIMH announced that Petrella and four other Canadians affected by mental health will help CAMIMH raise awareness and support for people dealing with mental illnesses. The news was released in advance of ahead Mental Illness Awareness Week, which runs from October 4 to 10 this year.
Each year, five Faces of Mental Illness are selected to represent the one in five Canadians who are affected by mental illness. They are also celebrated for their advocacy work and for sharing their journey of recovery. These brave individuals help CAMIMH advocate for improvements to Canada’s mental health policies by sharing their stories of resilience and recovery
The theme of the 2020 Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) highlights that now more than ever Canadians understand that "there is no health without mental health." As we all navigate these challenging times by adjusting our behaviours, attitudes, lifestyles and social interactions, CAMIMH is working to recognize and celebrate the movement we as a society have made in prioritizing mental health.
This year, CAMIMH is calling on all governments to strive for mental health parity by advocating for better, more accessible mental health services for all Canadian on par with physical health.
Across Canada, hundreds of organizations including schools, workplaces and hospitals are supporting MIAW with their own initiatives. To see what various organizations and individuals are doing we encourage all to monitor the hashtag #MIAW20 on social media throughout the week.
As part of the CAMIMH Faces of Mental Illness campaign, each ambassador tells their own personal story. Learn about Professor Petrella's story and find out about all five Faces of this year's campaign.