Not Feeling Yourself Today @ Work? Look Around - You're Not Alone

Today marks Partners for Mental Health's Day of Action, Not Myself Day @ Work

TORONTO, June 6, 2013 /CNW/ - Following a month of active campaigning to shine a spotlight on the issues around mental health and to create healthier workplaces, Partners for Mental Health marks its Not Myself Day @ Work, a national day of action.

Over the course of the four-week campaign, Partners for Mental Health enlisted the support of 102 organizations, representing over 225,000 Canadian employees.  Simply by participating, these organizations and employees are playing a pivotal role in helping to transform the way mental health is perceived and supported at work.

"My anxiety doesn't know when I'm at work - panic attacks don't happen only when I'm at home," says Courtney Taylor, a corporate champion volunteer for Partners for Mental Health who has suffered from anxiety issues her entire life.  "Since I publicly shared my personal struggles with mental illness, so many people have opened up to me and shared their own stories.  They found courage because I found courage; the domino effect I have witnessed has been inspiring on so many levels."

With the campaign culminating today, these businesses and organizations will call attention to the issue in a big way from coffee mental-health breaks, lunch-and-learns and fundraising and speaker events in offices across the country.  Employees will also be encouraged to wear their mood button pins to enable co-workers to declare their support for one another and to stimulate new conversations about mental health in the workplace.

"It takes courage to step up and lead change, especially around an issue that is so strongly stigmatized," says Jeff Moat, president, Partners for Mental Health.  "It is only with the support of committed organizations that we can end the detrimental effects of unmanaged mental illness in the workplace."

In addition to benefitting the health and well-being of employees, investing in workplace mental health can also help employers avoid the financial consequences of ignoring the issue.  It has been estimated that $51 billion is the annual economic cost of mental illness in Canada¹; however 10 to 25 per cent of costs incurred directly by employers due to mental health issues and illnesses could be avoided².

A full list of participating sponsors, including founding sponsors Scotiabank and Lundbeck, can be found online at www.notmyselftoday.ca.

To learn more, please visit www.notmyselftoday.ca or call/email Partners for Mental Health at 613-798-5862 or [email protected].

About Partners for Mental Health

Partners for Mental Health is a national charitable organization dedicated to transforming the way Canadians think about, act towards and support mental health and mental illness. Its mission is to engage millions of Canadians to take action to support mental health by participating in campaigns, events and activities that promote mental health and well-being, contacting politicians to influence policy, volunteering and fundraising.

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¹ Lim, K., et al. Chronic Diseases in Canada, 28 (3), 92-98, 2008
² Canadian Standards Association Group (CSA)

SOURCE: Partners for Mental Health

or to get involved in the Not Myself Today campaign please contact:

Catherine Mitchell
APEX PR
416-934-2103 / [email protected]