As a branch of CMHA, the men's groups seeks to provide information to end the stigma associated with men and mental health, allow men to feel they have a voice and know they are not alone, as well as learn about events and groups that are happening in the community that may be of interest to them. Public Policy and Advocacy
The Canadian Mental Health Association is the only association in Canada
that addresses all aspects of mental health and mental illness. We promote and advocate through strong connections we forge with policymakers, mental health consumers and their families, educators, the media, stakeholders and other service providers. CMHA’s National office influences public policy at the federal level with a multi-faceted approach that includes strengthening our relationship with government officials and politicians. In addition, we focus on the ongoing submission of briefs and presentations to Standing Committees on Finance, Health, Human Resources Development, Justice and others. CMHA Policy Statements articulate the general principles and recommendations relating to a particular issue which are endorsed by the CMHA. Mental Health Promotion
Key components of mental health generally include the capacity to: enjoy life, use abilities and achieve goals, contribute to community, deal with life’s inevitable challenges and bounce back from adversity, and form and sustain relationships with others. Mental health promotion refers to the actions taken to strengthen mental health. Branch Programs and Services
CMHA provides a wide range of innovative services and supports to people who are experiencing mental illness and their families. These services are tailored to the needs and resources of the communities where they are based. One of the core goals of these services is to help people with mental illness develop the personal tools to lead meaningful and productive lives. Services are designed to help people:
improve their mental health
integrate into the community
become more resilient
be supported in their recovery from mental illness. CMHA’s programs assist youth, provide peer support, stress reduction workshops and public education campaigns within the community. In addition, CMHA acts as a social advocate to encourage public action and commitment to strengthening community mental health services and legislation and policies affecting services. All our mental health projects are based on principles of empowerment, peer and family support, participation in decision-making, citizenship, and inclusion in community life.
