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MIAW 2003: Let’s Turn Around the Persistent Stigma Surrounding Mental Illness Together

October 5–11, 2003, is Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW). The theme of this year’s campaign is Mental Illness and the Family— Resources for Recovery, with the focus on the tapestry of families associated with the recovery process of mental illness.

MIAW offers an excellent backdrop to organize an event that helps raise awareness about mental illness. “Together we can do something to turn around the persistent stigma surrounding mental illness,” says Dr. Pierre Beauséjour, Chair of the CPA and founding chair of MIAW. He adds, “I am encouraged by the quality and level of national activity that is being tied into the MIAW 2003 campaign.” On Oct. 7, the newly expanded Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) will host the “CAMIMH Champions of Mental Health Luncheon on the Hill” at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. This parliamentary luncheon will inaugurate a new honour: the CAMIMH Mental Health Champion Awards under the theme, It’s About Time—It’s About Mental Health. The first interdepartmental Federal Government Employee Assistance Program (EAP) conference will take place on Oct. 1. The CPA has been collaborating with Health Canada, who are taking the lead for the conference, including securing the conference’s keynote speaker, Lt.-Gen (Ret.) Roméo Dallaire. In addition, the Department of Psychiatry at Queen’s University will host the Second International Conference on the Stigma of Mental Illness during MIAW. Running from Oct. 8 to 10, the theme of the conference is “Stigma Across the Life Span.”

More details about these and other events can be found on the MIAW Web site at www.cpa-apc.org/MIAW/MIAW.asp in the Calendar of Events section. While at the MIAW Web page, organizations are encouraged to submit details about their MIAW activities, so that media can be directed to local events for stories during MIAW.

The CPA provides organizers of MIAW events with supportive materials including theme posters, bookmarks and a guidebook for planning, all of which can be ordered online. Also, for the 12th consecutive year, the CPA will recognize at least one individual or group for their outstanding contribution to raising awareness about mental illness in Canada. Nomination forms are available online.

First launched by the CPA in 1992, the underlying goals of MIAW are to contribute to the destigmatization of mental illness and to informed decision-making about treatment and seeking care. While there is increasing evidence that attitudes about mental illness require ongoing and targeted strategies, Dr. Beauséjour notes that the CPA has maintained the campaign to provide an annual focal point for local groups, hospitals and national organizations to engage their communities in a discussion about mental illnesses and to provide information about the nature of mental illnesses and their available treatments. The CPA is continuing to call for a national action plan on mental illness and mental health in partnership with CAMIMH that would include federal leadership and significant resources to support a multifaceted public education strategy with an evaluation framework and based on best practices.

A number of potential sponsors were approached to increase external financial support for this year’s campaign. GlaxoSmithKline Inc. (GSK) and Wyeth generously stepped forward with financial contributions that help offset the printing and publicity costs underwritten by the CPA to provide Canada with a backdrop for MIAW this year. The balance of funding comes from CPA general revenues along with small contributions from a number of national organizations that are partnering with MIAW this year.

MIAW is facilitated by the CPA in partnership with CAMIMH members and a number of other national groups such as the Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation, the Canadian Nurses Association, the Canadian Association of Social Workers, the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. CAMIMH includes CPA, the Autism Society of Canada, the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, the Canadian Coalition for Seniors Mental Health, the Canadian Federation of Mental Health Nurses, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Canadian Psychological Association, the Mood Disorders Society of Canada, the Native Mental Health Association of Canada, the Schizophrenia Society of Canada and the National Network for Mental Health. FK/DV