The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health Welcomes Nominations for the 2017 Champions of Mental Health Awards

OTTAWA, Jan. 10, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) opens nominations for the Champions of Mental Health Awards. The Champions Awards is an annual event devoted to recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations for their contributions to the mental health sphere in their communities and across the country.

Nominations will be accepted in the following categories:
The Sharon Johnston Champion of Mental Health Award for Youth - Any Canadian 21 and younger who has shown leadership in his or her community in promoting mental health and or mental illness awareness, or any organizations dedicated to providing services for youth
Media - Any media personality or outlet who has contributed to public awareness of mental health or mental illness awareness
Workplace Mental Health - Any employer or employee who has contributed to creating a mentally healthy workplace for staff
Community Organization - Any organization that has provided great public service to community members experiencing mental illness
Community Individual - Any person, who through personal commitment has increased awareness about mental illness or reduced stigma in his or her community
Parliamentarian - Any provincial or federal Parliamentarian who has advanced the mental health agenda in Canada
Researcher or Clinician - Anyone who through their work as a researcher or clinician has advanced the mental health agenda in Canada

"The Champions of Mental Health Awards brings together the mental health community, business leaders, and decision-makers to recognize truly outstanding individuals and organizations," said Fred Phelps, CAMIMH Campaign Chair. "You can't help but feel uplifted by the Champions' stories and driven to take action."  

CAMIMH encourages Canadians to nominate their peers by completing the short online nomination form. To nominate a Champion, please visit camimh.ca for details. Submissions will be accepted until February 24^th, 2017. The awards will be held on May 3^rd, 2017 at the Shaw Convention Centre in Ottawa.

CAMIMH would like to recognize its sponsors who make the Champions Awards a success each year: Bell Let's Talk (Presenting Sponsor), the Mental Health Commission of Canada (Gold Sponsor), Lundbeck Canada (Silver Sponsor), and Innovative Medicines Canada (Bronze Sponsor). We thank all that apply and will contact the winners in early March.

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

Charlotte Webber, [email protected], 613-233-8906