CAMIMH Honours the 2015 Champions of Mental Health

OTTAWA, May 5, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Tonight in Ottawa, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) will host the thirteenth annual Champions of Mental Health Awards Gala presented by Bell Let's Talk. Each year, CAMIMH selects a group of Champions through a national nomination from the public to identify and recognize Canadians who have made an outstanding contribution in the field of mental health.

"We are honoured that Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston are joining us to recognize the incredible work and commitment of our 2015 Champions of Mental Health, Senator Denise Batters, DIFD, Robb Nash, Ted Michaels, Patrick Hickey and Spectra Energy," said Florence Budden, 2015 CAMIMH campaign chair. "We are proud to recognize these outstanding individuals and organizations that truly make a difference with regards to mental health across the country, and to announce the renaming of the Youth Award as the 'Mrs. Sharon Johnston Champion of Mental Health Award for Youth' in honour of Her Excellency's contribution to mental health in Canada."   

The Champions of Mental Health Awards are a key component of CAMIMH's annual awareness campaigns and are made possible through the generous support of its presenting sponsor Bell, as part of the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative.

"Bell Let's Talk is proud to support the Champions of Mental Health Awards and congratulates this year's Champions who are making a difference in the lives of all Canadians living with mental illness and helping to end the stigma surrounding mental illness," said Mary Deacon, Chair of the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative. "And we congratulate CAMIMH on its decision to recognize the tremendous commitment of Her Excellency Mrs. Johnston towards making mental health a priority in Canada."

The winners of the 2015 Champions of Mental Health Awards are:

Community Organization:	DIFD is a youth initiative run out of The Royal in Ottawa, which aims to support programs and initiatives in youth mental health, and most specifically suicide prevention. The organization was founded by Luke and Stephanie Richardson following the tragic loss of their daughter, Daron, to suicide.
Community Individual:	Mr. Robb Nash is a musician who altered his own course to stardom following a serious accident. He now uses his talent and experience to speak with students in schools, youth detention facilities and First Nations communities across Canada, inspiring them to live lives of purpose. Using the power of music and story, Robb speaks to students about difficult topics such as bullying, addiction, hopelessness, self harm and suicide. He is an innovative leader in the field of youth mental health, and has brought a message of hope and purpose to almost 1 million young people across the country.
Media:	Mr. Ted Michaels is a newscaster on AM 900 CHML radio in Hamilton, Ontario and is the voice helping to reduce the stigma around mental illness with his radio series, Wellness Wednesdays.
Parliamentarian:	Senator Denise Batters has been an active supporter of mental health and suicide prevention. In the past five years, she has organized several charity events in honour of her late husband, former Member of Parliament Dave Batters, who suffered from anxiety and depression and died by suicide in 2009.
Workplace Mental Health:	Spectra Energy launched its "Open Minds" wellness program in 2014 for its 3700 employees in Canada. The program's success centers around customized workplace mental health training, broad awareness campaigns and wide-ranging resources for employees, leaders and their families.
Youth:	Mr. Patrick Hickey is a grade 12 student in St-John's, Newfoundland and co-chair of "Mental Health Matters – a whisper to a scream," a provincial mental wellness conference hosted by Holy Heart of Mary. Patrick also sits on the steering committee for the Community Coalition For Mental Health as the Youth Outreach coordinator.

The Champions of Mental Health Awards are made possible through the generous support of our sponsors: Bell Let's Talk, Lundbeck Canada, the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D). To learn more about CAMIMH's campaign and the winners, please visit: camimh.ca.

Established in 1998, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is an alliance of mental health organizations comprised of health care providers and organizations representing persons with mental illness and their families and caregivers. CAMIMH's mandate is to ensure that mental health is placed on the national agenda so that persons with a lived experience of mental illness and their families receive appropriate access to care and support.

SOURCE Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health

To learn more about CAMIMH's campaigns, please visit camimh.ca or contact: Alexandra Dionne Charest, E-mail: [email protected], Telephone: [phone] ext.232, Cell: 514 583-9359