CMHA Support for Upcoming Bell Let's Talk Campaign

As a partner of Bell’s mental health initiative, CMHA is thrilled about the second annual Bell Let’s Talk Day, coming up on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Recognizing that simply talking makes a significant impact in breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health issues, the campaign encourages people to “start the conversation” about mental health with friends, family and co-workers.  For every text message and long distance call made by Bell customers that day, Bell will contribute 5 cents to programs dedicated to mental health.

Bell Let’s Talk spokesperson and six-time Olympian Clara Hughes kicked-off the national multi-media campaign on Monday, January 16, 2012. Joining Clara as spokespeople for Bell Let’s Talk Day and to help grow the dialogue on mental health this year in Quebec are composer and performer Stefie Shock and actor-comedian Michel Mpambara.

Last year, more than 66 million texts and calls were made on Bell Let’s Talk Day resulting in $3.3 million dollars donated to mental health initiatives across the country. This is a strong indication that Canadians care about mental health and want to be part of the national conversation. With your help, Bell hopes to take this conversation to a whole new level.   

How we can all help support Bell Let’s Talk Day:

1. Use social media -
· Facebook – Starting February 1, you can share  a smile with a friend at www.facebook.com/BellCanada
· Twitter – Follow us at @Bell_LetsTalk and re-tweet on Bell Let’s Talk Day on February 8. For each “re-tweet” made, Bell will donate 5 cents to mental health initiatives across Canada 
2. Bell customers can text or make long distance calls on Bell Let’s Talk Day – for every text message, long distance call and re-tweet made by Bell customers that day, Bell will contribute 5 cents to programs dedicated to mental health.
3. Check out the online resources available on www.bell.ca/letstalk

CMHA Peel Accreditation!

January 24 to 26 is the timeframe for our first ever organizational accreditation site visit with Building Healthier Organizations, Community Organizational Health Inc.
http://www.cohi-soci.ca/en/bhoprogram.php

We are the first mental health organization to undergo accreditation by BHO. This model was chosen as it best matched our services and spoke to CMHA’s commitment to community development. We also work very collaboratively with primary health care (both CHC’s and FHT’s) BHO accredits all CHC’s. Our agency orientation was held this morning to a packed house and our interviews have just begun. This process is supporting us to build a capable, accountable and credible agency as we move into our 51st year of service. We will receive a preliminary verbal report on Thursday at 1pm.

CMHA Peel is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012!

 1 in every 5 people will experience a mental illness at some point in their lives. 

Now in our 50th year it is more important than ever that we bring awareness and acceptance to issues of mental health and mental illness in our community. 

CMHA Peel began in 1962 as White Cross social groups and has morphed into a multi-service agency with everything from drop-in and street outreach to assertive community treatment. After a few years of excessive growth senior management has made a decision to make our 50th anniversary year one of stabilization and celebration!

We have a number of events we will be profiling throughout the year.  We will be talking about them here and also at our website - www.celebratecmhapeel.ca - so tune in and see what's next in our exciting schedule!