Canadian Mental Health Association

Name :

Canadian Mental Health Association

Address  :

180 Dundas Street West
Suite 2301

Town  :

Toronto

State  :

Ontario

Country  :

CANADA

Post Code:

M5G 1Z8

Phone  :

416 977 5580

Fax  :

416 977 2813

Web URL  :

Available

Email  :

info@ontario.cmha.ca

Description

About Mental Health
Mental health means striking a balance in all aspects of your life social physical spiritual economic and mental Reaching a balance is a learning process At times you may tip the balance too much in one direction and have to find your footing again Your personal balance will be unique and your challenge will be to stay mentally healthy by keeping that balance

History

History of CMHA
The Canadian Mental Health Association founded in 1918 and federally incorporated in 1926 is a national voluntary charitable organization dedicated to further the growth of mental health services across Canada

Today across Canada thousands of members and volunteers commit countless hours to support the activities and programs of the Association by providing direct services to those in need and their families informing the general public promoting mental wellbeing for all ages and keeping mental health concerns high on the government agenda

Early 1900s
Clifford W Beers an engineer in New Haven Connecticut after suffering
from a mental illness and cruel medical treatment organized the National
Committee for Mental Hygiene in 1909

In Canada Dr Clarence M Hincks established a mental hygiene clinic at
the Toronto Juvenile Court the first in Canada

Dr CK Clarke the Dean of Medicine at the University of Toronto
collaborated with Hincks in providing early psychiatrictreatment for adults
in the OutPatients Department of the Toronto General Hospital This was the
first community mental health clinic in Canada

In 1918 with the assistance of Beers Hincks organized the Canadian
National Committee for Mental Hygiene in Ottawa This Committee was the
forerunner to the Canadian Mental Health Association

19181950s
In 1920 Hincks and Beers organized the International Committee for Mental
Hygiene and began plans for the first International Congress on Mental
Hygiene which was held in Washington in 1930

World War II delayed progress in the mental health field but created a
demand for treatment services The importance of early treatment was
recognized and the preventive influence of high morale and inspired
leadership was acknowledged Public interest in mental health was stimulated

In 1948 as part of the National Health Grants Program the federal
government instituted a Mental Health Grant to assist provinces in
developing adequate facilities for the mentally ill

Services personnel and research in mental health all expanded rapidly in
the following ten years

In 1950 the Canadian National Committee for Mental Hygiene became the
Canadian Mental Health Association

In 1951 Mental Health Week was introduced across Canada

In 1952 the Ontario Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association
received its provincial charter

Local branches were established nationwide and a volunteer network
visitation programs in local hospitals gifts for patient programs and
organized dropin centres were created

1960s
Social action became part of the provincial associations role presenting
briefs to provincial governments on problems relating to mental illness

Psychiatric theory and new medical breakthroughs meant shorter stays in
hospitals CMHA lead the way for community based rehabilitation services

In 1962 the National Association made a submission to the Royal Commission
on Health Services the Hall Commission based upon the findings of the
Committee on Psychiatric Services the quotTyhurst Committeequot named after Dr
Tyhurst the Chairperson The report included sections on legislation
mentally disordered children economics of mental illness and prevention

In 1963 the full report titled quotMore for the Mindquot a CMHA document
stated that quotmental illness should be dealt with in the same organizational
administrative and professional framework as physical illnessquot

By the end of the 1960s a program of social and political action was fully
implemented and public and professional education of mental health was under
way

1970s
By 1970 major government reports were focusing on the need for planning and
organization of services in coordinated systems

In 1970 the Association took on an action orientation to rejuvenate a
community orientation with the Associations concern for the mental health
of all people in the community

In 1974 CMHA Ontario brought community mental health concerns to the
attention of the politicians A consolidated program submission consisting
of proposals for community mental health and volunteer programs from each
branch was made to the Ministry of Health As a result the quotAdult Community
Mental Health Programquot of the Ministry was created

1980s
In the early 1980s psychiatric patient advocacy integration of community
resources and the exploration of unemployment as a stress factor were
identified by the National Board as critical in the direction of the
Association

In 1982 the Mental Health and the Workplace project was launched

In 1983 an award winning advertising campaign entitled quotMy Dadquot was
developed using a combination of TV radio magazine and newspaper ads and
ran for a limited time in each year until 1987 Through the theme quotA Caring
Community Is the Answerquot the campaign provided a method of increased
awareness of mental illness and a shift in attitude towards public support

In 1987 CMHA played a central role when Bill 190 received royal assent and
the Mental Health Act was amended to give consumers the right to choose
treatment alternatives

In 1988 CMHA Ontario and branches played a major role in the development of
the report entitled Building Community Support for People A Plan for Mental
Health in Ontario which made recommendations on a comprehensive system of
community mental health services in Ontario

By 1988 there was a total of 38 CMHA branches and Steering Committees in
Ontario

1990s
In 1991 CMHA National celebrated its 75th Anniversary across Canada

Mental Health Reform was the top social policy priority for the Association

In 1993 in response to the Ministry of Healths release of the mental
health reform policy framework Putting People First CMHA Ontario emphasized
the need for unified leadership management planning and funding of the
mental health system

In 1998 CMHA Ontario developed ACCESS A Framework for a Community Based
Mental Health Service System The Framework is designed to provide high
quality service to consumers in Ontarios reorganized health system

In 1999 focus on information and technology created the development of the
CMHA Ontario website With the creation of the website the concept of
a library without walls was becoming a reality