MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION OF CANADA PRAISES RELEASE OF ONTARIO MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY "OPEN MINDS, HEALTHY MINDS"

CALGARY, June 22 /CNW/ - The release of a 10-year mental health and addictions strategy by the province of Ontario is being met with praise from the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). "The actions that will flow from this new strategy will help improve the mental health of people across Ontario," said Louise Bradley, MHCC President and CEO.

The release of the strategy, entitled "Open Minds, Healthy Minds" fulfils commitments made by the Ontario government as part of its 2011 budget. "In March, we were pleased to see the province's commitment to children and youth. The release of Open Minds, Healthy Minds places this commitment within the context of a comprehensive, integrated strategy to address mental health and addictions in Ontario," said Bradley.

MHCC Chair Michael Kirby has advocated for more governmental and societal focus on mental health since his time in the Senate of Canada and welcomes this move. "The government of Ontario has taken a major step forward with the release of this strategy. I'm pleased to see Ontario adopt an "all-of-government" approach to mental health and addictions, given the number of departments with a role to play in improving the mental health of Ontarians. I'm also pleased to see the comprehensive nature of the strategy, which focuses on areas like children and youth, the workplace, stigma reduction and the training of first responders," said Kirby.

MHCC board member Patrick Dion also is a member of a Ministerial Advisory Group which helped shape the Ontario strategy.

For more on the Open Minds, Healthy Minds strategy, please visit: http://www.news.ontario.ca/mcys/en/2011/06/ontarios-comprehensive-mental-health-and-addictions-strategy.html

The MHCC is currently developing a mental health strategy for Canada and continues to work directly with provinces and territories on the details. (For more on the MHCC strategy, please visit http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/Pages/Strategy.aspx)

The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a catalyst for transformative change. Our mission is to work with stakeholders to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems and to improve services and support. Our goal is to promote mental health and help people who live with mental health problems lead meaningful and productive lives. The Mental Health Commission of Canada is funded by Health Canada. For more, visit www.mentalhealthcommission.ca.

The views represented herein solely represent the views of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Production of this document is made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.

For further information:

Nujma Bond, MHCC Communications, 403-385-4033