A National Consumer Coalition
for Canada
Introducing… the Canadian Coalition of Alternative Mental Health
Resources!
Mission Statement
The Canadian Coalition of Alternative Mental
Health Resources is a National forum that embraces
best practices, alternative programs, learning
opportunities, knowledge transfer and resource
sharing.
Vision Statement
Canadian society will embrace the dignity,
integrity, strength and self-determination of all
personals living with mental health issues.
Goals
- To create a consumer-driven research agenda
- Encourage participation and leadership
development of persons with Mental Health issues
that is inclusive and reflective of the social
and cultural mosaic
- Promote positive change for persons with
Mental Health issues through a unified voice
- Create a clearinghouse for the gathering and
distribution of information
- To generate policy and position papers
- To develop an effective communication
strategy
Who We Are
In the spring of 2004 folks involved at the Board, Staff, and
Member levels of the National Network for Mental Health got to
talking about a national coalition of consumer leaders to address
the pressing policy issues we all address. It seemed at that time,
since monies were accessible, that we should put forth a proposal to
Social Development Canada to create such a coalition.
It was expected that if such a coalition was created, we could
bring together leaders in mental health from across the country to
address policies and positions of the consumers nationally, so that
we can all benefit from a united voice. These position papers and
policy statements could be adopted as is, or modified to meet the
needs of each consumer organization operating in Canada, and will
allow us to work and lobby for change with one voice. It is very
difficult for government to not take into account our needs if we
articulate them the same way in a consistent manner.
As time went on, it didn’t seem that we would be approved to get
the funding to begin such an endeavour, and then Social Development Canada announced that we were approved for
a three-year project to create our Coalition. On December 17th 2004, our
last day of work before Christmas Holidays, we signed a contract
enabling the beginning of what is now known as the “Canadian
Coalition of Alternative Mental Health Resources”.
In mid January 2005 we brought together 24 leaders from across Canada
to initiate the creation of the coalition as an entity created and
facilitated by the National Network for Mental Health (NNMH) but not
owned by the NNMH.
Currently the leaders have created the name, mission statement,
vision statement and goals of the coalition. There are four
committees, each being the Policy Committee, Communication
Committee, Research Committee and Conference Planning Committee.
This Coalition is seeking organizational involvement from across
the country, so if your organization wants to appoint a leader to
work with us as we grow, we encourage you to contact
info@ccamhr.ca
or 1-888-406-4663 to begin the process of your involvement.
Things are changing quickly in mental health, and we need to be
involved and at the centre of any and all decision making processes.
Come join us!
Constance McKnight, National Executive Director National Network
for Mental Health
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