CAMH Foundation
100 Stokes Street M6J 1H4 Toronto, ON, Canada

Feel good Friday! We are so excited to see 869 registrations for the #CAMHSunriseChallenge - if you've already registered, thank you! If not, there's still time to register for our early bird! Sign up on or before March 31, and you'll be automatically entered for a chance to #win a $1000 Costco gift card. Learn more: Register today: http://ow.ly/HTi750E9EKp The Sunrise Challenge fundraiser invites Canadians to wake up with the sun for one week (May 31-June 6) while raising money to support the groundbreaking mental health research and suicide prevention initiatives happening at CAMH. By rising together and rallying our friends, family and co-workers behind the cause, we can change the way the world sees and treats mental illness. #MentalHealthIsHealth

Watch a recording of our first Mind Matters Facebook Live featuring Sophie Grégoire Trudeau & Dr. Juveria Zaheer!

Tune in tomorrow (March 24, 2021) from 2-3pm EDT for our first Mind Matters Facebook Live with Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and Dr. Juveria Zaheer to discuss how Canadians can be more helpful to people who might be experiencing mental illness as well as how to maintain their own wellness and resilience during this particularly trying time. #CAMHMindMatters is a three part series to discuss timely topics related to mental health. Learn what you can do to support the mental health of friends, family and community during the pandemic, discover what the journey to recovery can look like, and find hope through the groundbreaking mental health research and innovation happening right now at CAMH. RSVP Here: http://ow.ly/CXQD50E5pbe

What will you rise for? #CAMHSunriseChallenge We all know that at its most serious, mental illness can be fatal. In Canada, 11 people die by suicide every day. Globally, 800,000 lives are lost to this tragic outcome every year. The statistics are harrowing, but there is hope on the horizon. We created the Sunrise Challenge because it’s time. Time to invest in mental health like we do physical health. Time to end the silence, stigma, and shame that still surround mental illness today. Time to rise together and stop mental illness from destroying lives. Register today: http://ow.ly/9l9V50E2JcS

Feel good Friday! We are incredibly grateful to The Toor Family Foundation for their recent donation to NAVIGATE, a coordinated specialty care program within the Slaight Family Centre for Youth in Transition that puts young people experiencing early psychosis on the path to recovery. With this gift, the Toor family also hopes to break down the stigma that prevents people, particularly within the South Asian community, from getting help when they need it. Through the power of... early intervention, NAVIGATE has been creating hope for young patients and their families at CAMH since its launch in 2017. Thanks to the Toor family’s generosity, we can expand the comprehensive care provided to youth through targeted treatments, family education programs, resiliency training, and supported employment and education. We still have a long way to go, but with this transformative investment, we’re one step closer to a world in which every young Canadian has the opportunity to pursue their dreams. #MentalHealthIsHealth

The Slaight Family Foundation just gave $30 million to support mental health in Canada. We’re one of the 19 organizations and hospitals across the country chosen to receive this vital funding. It couldn’t be more timely, and CAMH couldn’t be more grateful. The Slaight Family Foundation hopes this donation inspires you to give, and so do we. #MentalHealthInitiative #MentalHealthIsHealth

Twenty years after a team of Indigenous social workers and an Elder formed CAMH’s first team to support the unique needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis patients, CAMH is officially launching Shkaabe Makwa a unique and integrated Centre that aims to transform health outcomes through the advancement of research, training and innovative healing models that harmonize traditional knowledge and medical expertise. Learn more: http://ow.ly/5Ugm50CmX1c

"When I went to CAMH, I only had the clothes I was wearing. They gave me more clothes, toiletriesall the basicsand it was so helpful." Ethan Nino. Read their story and learn more about Gifts of Light here: http://ow.ly/Zzse50CmYnY

Today on Trans Day of Remembrance, we remember the people we have lost as we work towards creating a society where everyone is accepted for who they are, free from discrimination & prejudice. #TDoR2020 #TransRightsAreHumanRights

Every day got scarier. I couldn’t go to work. I couldn't drive. I stopped eating. My hands were shaking so badly I couldn’t hold a cup of water. In my head, I was a burden to the people I love. Read Angie Elliott's story: http://ow.ly/LxQU50CjRTr #notsuicidenottoday

Feel good Friday: In 1998, CAMH was created to transform mental health care. And thanks to our incredible supporters like you, that vision is coming to life. CAMH's two new buildings , the McCain Complex Care & Recovery Building and the Crisis & Critical Care Building are set to open in 11 days. Learn more about the future of care here: http://ow.ly/hZc150Ch5vV

Did you know: Half a million Canadians miss work each week due to mental illness. Show support for mental health and CAMH with a virtual activity for your friends or coworkers. Sign up to learn more about hosting your own fundraiser: https://bit.ly/31LVHiq

If you or a loved one needs support, CAMH's site has crisis lines and specialized resources. You may want to read through and share these resources on your social channels so everyone can access the care they deserve. http://ow.ly/8npl50BmohH

Feel good Friday: Congratulations to CAMH's own Dr. Juveria Zaheer for being named among Canada’s Top 40 Under 40! http://ow.ly/PIL450Cboqp

As a young woman with a history of anxiety, depression & suicidal ideation, Stacy-Ann Buchanan wrestled with the appearance of portraying external happiness to her family and friends while silently dying on the inside. Read her story: http://ow.ly/al4A50C06hZ

You are not alone. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, we are committed to providing Canadians with reliable, up-to-date mental health information and tips that can help them protect the health and safety of themselves, their families, and their neighbours. For new resources, visit http://ow.ly/t9Pe50BFEjw

Share: Here's one example of how to talk about suicide in a respectful way. Read more in CAMH's language guide, Words Matter, here: http://ow.ly/iNeq50BBC3O

I think I had been mentally ill for many years I just had a really good cloaking mechanism. Read Shawn Pendenque's story of resilience: http://ow.ly/U2WG50CbIlz

People come to think about suicide from a number of different places, perspectives and illnesses. Far too many feel like it’s the only option, - CAMH's Dr. Araba Chintoh. Read her full story here: http://ow.ly/8Pez50BBlut

Thank you to our partner Hudson's Bay for supporting CAMH womenmind during Giving Day! You can join their virtual panel on women’s mental health this Saturday, October 24 by registering here: https://hbstyle.co/3hMmlgA

Share: A new free app for people facing suicidal ideation is here. The Hope by CAMH app provides an easily accessible safety plan, as well as mindfulness tips, crisis resources and a journal. All thanks to a small interprofessional and dedicated team of CAMH employees. Read more: http://ow.ly/oBSw50C05fS

I said Not Today by donating to CAMH Foundation. You can too here: https://bit.ly/3c4UTt6

A big thank you to the Garron family! They join our growing community of mental health champions, including many of you, that are helping create better tomorrows for those living with mental illness. Read more about how this inspiring gift will help revolutionize mental health research through brain imaging: http://ow.ly/mVXP50Cbo1L

It wasn’t about wanting to die; it was about not wanting to live in pain anymore. There’s a difference. I just wanted to stop hurting. For much of Ivanka’s life, her brain has not been well. She has survived a suicide attempt, and has since been formally diagnosed with anxiety, depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. After 6 weeks in the hospital, she returned home to Ontario where she embarked on a new career as a professional organizer under the moniker The Tidy Moose. She looks at her work at decluttering people’s physical spaces through a mental health lens, as a way of helping people declutter their mind as well. Read her full story here: http://ow.ly/lqdk50BHXnO

After a childhood marked by trauma, Ethan survived several battles with suicidal ideation. Now living with their husband and two dogs, they credit CAMH with saving their life. I have so much to live for now. If I ended it then, I never would have known all these things in my life. I would have missed it all. Read Ethan’s full story here: http://ow.ly/RuIA50BqncQ

Today is World Mental Health Day. A day for tough but important conversations to happen around the world. Conversations that have the power to save lives. You can help be a catalyst and start these important conversationsand we have the resources to help. Learn more: http://ow.ly/z9gN50BNdtp

When I think about Not today, I think about myself growing up young and Black and in poverty and all the challenges I had navigating society as a Black person. I was such an ambitious young person and there were closed doors everywhere I went because of racism. Asante Haughton entered the most dangerous phase in his young life, when he began to get specific about visualizing how he was going to end his life. He wrote three suicide notes. Then one day, he had a moment of clarity that changed the direction of his life. Read his full story here: http://ow.ly/EHd650BnuQx

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day, and we’re launching our Not suicide. Not today. campaign. Take a moment to read an open letter from CAMH’s President & CEO, Dr. Catherine Zahn, on why we need to talk about suicide more than one day a year. http://ow.ly/AqTC50BmC4H

Feel good Friday: Thank you to Eleventh House Jewellery for supporting our Not suicide. Not today. campaign. They pledged all of their sales on World Suicide Prevention Day to CAMH! Learn more about the campaign here: http://ow.ly/zu7E50BNd59

Share: Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. But when the world loses someone to suicide every 40 seconds, one day is not enough. That's why today we're launching Not suicide. Not today. We need to make prevention a priority today, tomorrow, and every day after that. Not Today is a pledgea promiseto do everything we can to ensure that today isn’t the day we lose someone else to suicide. http://ow.ly/r0XX50Bmo2z

Share: October 10 is World Mental Health Day. Suicide is the most tragic ending to someone’s experience with mental illness. Whether someone is facing PTSD, depression, a panic disorder, or any other mental illness there is hope. Together, we can prevent suicide. Learn more: http://ow.ly/zu7E50BNd59

Your Saturday read: "What we do know is that suicide prevention efforts are not tailored for communities of color, so they're not getting information they need to do prevention activities," https://snip.ly/q0vkfg

ICYMI: Over the last few weeks, we've been sharing the incredible stories of people with mental illness and how they're coping with COVID-19. Read them all here: http://ow.ly/5sfa50Be2Xv

To all of our incredible donors and supporters - thank you! Because of you, we are building better tomorrows. In the midst of Mental Illness Awareness Week, CAMH has completed our two new buildings, the McCain Complex Care & Recovery Building and the Crisis & Critical Care Building. These new buildings embody everything Mental Health is Health means: integrating of care, research and education; creating inclusive, respectful and dignified spaces for recovery; connecting our campus to the surrounding community. They are powerful symbols that remind people experiencing mental illness that CAMH is where they will find help and hope. And they show our community and the world what it looks like when we build better tomorrows together. Learn more: http://ow.ly/LDZr50BNcoT

With school approaching amidst an ongoing pandemic, young people may be feeling additional stress or anxiety. With the help of @NYAC_ & CAMH's Youth Engagement Initiative, here are tips they can use to manage their mental health http://ow.ly/KO3D50Be37p

Share: Today is the first day of Mental Illness Awareness Week. This week we remember that recovery in the face of mental illness is possible, and together, we choose hope. Together, we can prevent suicide. http://ow.ly/UBBG50BHTpp

"If we as a society are finally understanding the incredible importance of mental health, and how deeply isolation and fear can impact us, my hope is that means we can build a better society where mental health can be at the forefront and we could have a system that works for everybody." Dr. Juveria Zaheer is a Clinician Scientist at the CAMH Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and Education Administrator at the Gerald Sheff and Shanitha Kachan Emergency Department at CAMH. In addition to her work as a front line psychiatrist at the CAMH ED, she has also authored several papers on suicide in recent years, including an analysis of suicide notes. To read more about her vision for a healthcare system that works for everyone, visit http://ow.ly/rRaO50B3HzG

You are not alone. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, we are committed to providing Canadians with reliable, up-to-date mental health information and tips that can help them protect the health and safety of themselves, their families, and their neighbours. For new resources, visit http://ow.ly/t9Pe50BFEjw

A recent CAMH survey indicated that binge drinking increased during the pandemic. For those at risk for addiction & problem alcohol use, it’s important to monitor your drinking before it’s too late. Here are some tips to consider: http://ow.ly/Ch6850B3GAX

More than 3 in 4 LGBTQ2S homeless youth in Ontario’s York Region have overdosed in the last year, and almost 4 in 10 have attempted suicide, highlighting the need for better services & supports, according to Dr. Alex Abramovich's new study. Read more: http://ow.ly/K2fT50B4AN3

"Do I pretend I’m OK because everyone expects that?" Despite an ongoing history of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, Stacy-Ann Buchanan has made a go of it in the fast-paced worlds of acting and film-making for much of her adult life. In 2015 she turned her lived experience of mental illness into an award-winning documentary, The Blind Stigma, that focuses on mental health in the black community. Two years later, she was named a CAMH Difference Maker for mental healt...h. The pandemic began shortly after she started a planned four-month hiatus from a television series to spend more time with her one-year-old daughter. "I went back and relearned a lot of things. I’m an extrovert and I have always been used to dealing with my anxiety by being always out. I’ve always had this go-go-go-go schedule. I think I needed this on a spiritual level." Read Stacy-Ann's full story here: http://ow.ly/TY4E50B3EQl

Amanda had her first episode of post-partum psychosis the night after her daughter was born. The nurse came in the next morning and asked me how I had slept. I said ‘Not bad except for the screaming babies all night.’ She said ‘That’s interesting considering your daughter is the only one in the nursery and she didn’t cry all night.’ I knew from then on that I wasn’t right. Now 35 and living in a small town in Southwestern Ontario with her husband and 10-year-old daughter Ad...elyn, her experience with mental illness put her on a path to give up her career to pursue her passion for painting and other visual arts. A few months before the pandemic began, she had her first solo art exhibit in Toronto, and asked that a portion of the proceeds from any sales of her work be donated to Gifts of Light, which provides basic necessities for CAMH patients. Read Amanda's full story here: http://ow.ly/p0nP50AYUOD

It's never too early or too late to remind your kids about the importance of physical & mental health during the pandemic. Here’s a handy guide that may help: http://ow.ly/23Wc50AYXmq

Feel good Friday: What are you doing for yourself today to feel good, or even just a little better? We have some tips to help you be kind to yourself and manage stress here: http://ow.ly/tobf50AKAk9

Since being diagnosed with PTSD after serving on a jury for a murder trial six years ago, former marketing executive Mark Farrant has single-handedly made mandatory mental health supports for jury members a national issue. In late May of this year, Mark appeared before the House of Commons Emergency COVID-19 Finance Committee to raise concerns for jury duty and the justice system, and to include jury duty among COVID-19 Essential Services. He appeared before a Senate panel ...on Access to Justice in a Pandemic, raising mental health concerns for jurors post-pandemic when trials resume. During the COVID crisis, he has not been receiving active treatment for PTSD. Then one day early on in the pandemic, while standing in line outside a grocery store surrounded by anxious people in masks, he had a panic attack. "When I was ill before, I wouldn’t have been able to recover as quickly as I did." Read Mark's full story here: http://ow.ly/mATD50AKBkC

As you look toward the future of work, you may have more questions than answers. That’s why CAMH has developed a new, pandemic-specific supplemental resource--designed to work hand-in-hand with CAMH’s existing Mental Health Playbook for Business Leaders--to help you support your employees’ mental health through this time and beyond. To get your pandemic-specific resource visit: https://bit.ly/3f5sjHR And download the full Playbook here: https://bit.ly/3hK3Jhk

Feel good Friday: As Canada’s leading academic health sciences centre dedicated to mental health, CAMH experts are working to integrate the latest research findings with best practices for delivery of care. http://ow.ly/vYdz50AKzYR

Shelley Hofer has been a tireless supporter of CAMH and other mental health organizations for years. She has also had major depressive disorder since she was a young child and has been an Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) patient at the CAMH Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention. After decades of dealing with mental illness, Shelley says she can now predict fairly accurately when her mental health is starting ...to deteriorate again and it is time for another maintenance treatment of rTMS usually about 7 or 8 months later. Since she had her last treatment just a few months before the pandemic began, she says she is actually feeling mentally healthy so far, indicating a resilience that surprised even her. "This pandemic has reminded me that I’m actually a really strong person. Throw a problem at me when I am healthy and strong and I will step up to the plate and do anything I can." Read Shelley's full story here: http://ow.ly/nEL450AKzKo