Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 1 – 7, 2017

SOUTH ZONE – Alberta Health Services (AHS) is hosting activities to mark this year’s Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct. 1-7), which focuses on spreading mental health awareness and reducing stigma. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness throughout their lifetime. Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) provides an opportunity to talk about mental health issues and the importance of early recognition, proper diagnosis and access to effective medical treatments and support. Know that if you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Help is available through Health Link at 811 or the Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642.

To help celebrate Mental Illness Awareness Week, please join in on the following events in your zone:

“Not Myself Today … But that’s OK” - an interactive photo booth with props to invite conversations about the reality of mental illness and reducing stigma. Information will be provided on the dos and don’ts for talking about mental illness, as well as debunking some common myths that surround mental illness.

These photo booths will be occurring in South Zone at the following locations:

Chinook Regional Hospital Atrium
October 3rd to 5th, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Medicine Hat Provincial Building
Monday October 2nd, 1 – 4 p.m.
Tuesday October 3rd, 12:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Oyen Community Health Services
Wednesday October 4th, Noon - 3:30 p.m.

Medicine Hat Hospital Atrium
Thursday October 5th, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Medicine Hat Regional Resource Centre
Friday October 6th, 1 – 3 p.m.

The Not myself today campaign can be found here:
http://www.notmyselftoday.ca

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

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