Promoting Mental Health Week

National Mental Health Week may not be till May, but it's never too soon to start spreading the word. This year Mental Health Week is from May 7-13, 2012 and events will be taking place all across Canada.

CMHA's Mental Health Week is an annual event that takes place during the first week of May to encourage people from all walks of life to learn, talk, reflect and engage with others on all issues relating to mental health. The theme for this years week is mental health for all.

A great way to get involved with Mental Health Week is to help promote the national event. Some fun ideas on CMHA's website include:

• Creating a living record of solutions that people in your community use to improve their mental health
• Organize an event to discuss mental health and share the results via social media
• Sponsor a local yoga teacher or wellness instructor to visit your local CMHA branch
• Organize a service group to discuss the benefits of volunteering

This is the week to speak up about mental health. Sharing stories now can help raise awareness and involvement in this long running and important annual event. For more information about the upcoming Mental Health Week visit the media centre online.

7th Annual Family Conference

CMHA VB is currently gearing up for the 7th Annual Family Conference taking place in one months time. The conference is put on by the CMHA, the Family Advisory Committee, Vancouver Coastal Health, the British Columbia Schizophrenic Society, and the Mood Disorders Assocation of British Columbia.

The goal of this conference is to promote awareness and understanding of serious mental illnesses and to promote family involvement in the mental health system.

The one day event will feature a opening key note speaker addressing the topic of genetics and mental illness. The rest of the morning will be spent with a variety of different workshops on stories of recovery, legal and financial planning, the well sibling experience and mental health in an aging population. Lunch will follow the workshops, and the afternoon will be dedicated to key note addressing understanding insight in mental health before ending with a family panel.

The conference isn't till next month, but register now to ensure your seat! Tickets are $35 for individuals and $50 for a family (up to four people). The conference will be taking place at the Paetzold Theatre at Vancouver General Hospital.