Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario celebrates 61st Mental Health Week 2012 and encourages Canadians to "Read Your Mind"

Organization Partners with the AIR MILES^® Reward Program to Launch Unique Facebook Application for Ontarians to Learn About Their Mental Health

TORONTO, May 7, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario is proud to announce the launch of Mental Health Week 2012 (May 7- 13), which celebrates the commitment to improving and promoting mental health awareness, and reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness. This year, CMHA Ontario will be promoting mental health awareness via social media with a unique Facebook-based self-assessment tool, partnering with the AIR MILES Reward Program to encourage Ontarians to learn more about their own mental health and be rewarded at the same time.

'Read Your Mind' to Build Mental Health Awareness

On May 4, CMHA Ontario launches a dynamic campaign, called "Read Your Mind," which runs through Mental Health Week and beyond. "We're trying to help encourage Ontarians to understand and realize that this is everyone's issue - one in five Canadian adults under 65 will have a mental health problem in any given year. This means you, your family, a friend, a neighbour, or colleague," says Lorne Zon, CEO, CHMA Ontario. "We want to provide an opportunity for Ontarians to join the cause to build awareness around mental health and mental illness, share the survey with friends and family, and help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness."

Through the campaign, CMHA Ontario is launching a unique way for Canadians to read their own minds and take the first step in building better mental health awareness. Ontarians can visit CMHA Ontario's new Facebook Page (www.facebook.com.cmha.ontario) and complete a unique five-minute online self-assessment that looks at common triggers that helps users look at common triggers that could affect an individual's mental health and gauges them against key areas of happiness, including ability to enjoy life, flexibility, resilience, balance and self-actualization.  Participants are then encouraged to share the self-assessment with their friends and family to promote better mental health awareness, and learn more via click-through prompts at the end of the self- assessment. In addition to learning more about their own mental health, online Facebook users will also have the opportunity to earn AIR MILES reward miles.

Participate in the READ YOUR MIND campaign by clicking on the link: https://www.facebook.com/cmha.ontario/app_174319172686695

"The driving action of the campaign is to promote mental health on both a personal and community level, because this issue touches each and every one of us, every single day," says Zon. "Our goal is to rally the support of thousands of Ontarians to take part in this self-assessment and share the survey with friends and family."

Learn and Earn

Through the campaign, CMHA Ontario has also partnered with the AIR MILES Reward Program to reward the first 16,500 Collectors with 20 reward miles for completing the self- assessment and taking the first step in building mental health awareness. "The Read Your Mind self-assessment is a breakthrough initiative that we are very proud to support with the power and popularity of AIR MILES," says Andreas Souvaliotis, President of AIR MILES for Social Change. "By rewarding Ontarians when they participate in this self-assessment, we aim to increase public engagement in this responsible initiative and encourage thousands to learn more and spread the word."

Mental Health Week Promotes 'Mental Health for All'

Mental Health Week, now in its 61^st year, is a national annual event that takes place during the first week in May to encourage people from all walks of life to learn, talk, reflect and engage with others on all issues relating to mental health. During this week, community-based activities/events will be scheduled in every region across the country.  CMHA Ontario encourages all Canadians to get involved in their local community and help CMHA realize its goal of 'mental health for all.'

For further information about Mental Health Week 2012 and to find your local MHW event, please visit:  http://www.mentalhealthweek.ca.

About CMHA, Ontario

Founded in 1952, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario, is a non-profit, charitable organization committed to improving the lives of people with mental illness and their families, and to the promotion of mental health for all Ontarians. CMHA, Ontario achieves its mission through public education, applied research and policy analysis, and advocating for healthy public policy and an effective and efficient health system. Ontario's 32 local CMHA branches provide direct services and supports to communities across the province. Learn more at www.ontario.cmha.ca.   Follow us on Twitter @CMHAOntario

About the AIR MILES Reward Program

Founded in 1992, the AIR MILES Reward Program is Canada's premier coalition loyalty program with more than 10 million active Collector accounts, representing approximately two-thirds of all Canadian households. AIR MILES Collectors can earn reward miles simply by doing their everyday shopping at more than 220 leading brand-name Sponsors, representing thousands of retail and service locations across Canada and leading global brands online. Collectors can indulge in more than 1200 leisure, entertainment, merchandise, travel and a range of accredited, environmentally-friendly lifestyle rewards. With AIR MILES Cash, Collectors can also have the flexibility to instantly redeem their AIR MILES reward miles in-store towards many everyday and high value purchases like gas, grocery, drug store items and home improvement purchases at participating Sponsors.

Or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact:

Kismet Baun, Director of Communications
CMHA, Ontario
[phone], ext. 4141
[email protected]
www.ontario.cmha.ca