Announcing my new role as Community Correspondent with Partners for Mental Health!

Greetings online community! I am thrilled to announce my new volunteer role as a Community Correspondent with Partners for Mental Health! I have been following this fabulous organization since the launch of their first campaign, and am beyond excited to have been officially welcomed onto their volunteer team this week.

Partners for Mental Health is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the way Canadians think about, act towards and treat mental health.

Their vision:

• Increased access to services, treatment and support.
• Better workplace policies.
• More funding for research.
• Increased awareness and attention towards one’s own mental health.
• Better treatment toward those living with a mental health problem or illness.

A new state of mind where:

• There is no shame in living with a mental health problem or illness.
• Recovery of a meaningful life in community is achievable.
• Increased, sustained funding is a priority.
• More research (and funding) is supported.
• Mental health education and training is commonplace.
• There is an acknowledgement and understanding that there is no health without mental health.

What does this mean for me and my blog?

I will continue to to blog about my personal experience and successes in managing anxiety and depression and I will also use my blog to promote Partners for Mental Health, their campaigns and initiatives, as well as report on mental health issues and stories in my community.

Mental health advocacy is near and dear to my heart, and has been become a big part of my life over the past year since I began speaking openly about my mental illness. I am honoured to have the support of an innovative, grassroots organization like Partners for Mental Health and hope to be a valuable part of their growing movement to abolish stigma and improve the way mental health is perceived and supported.

Please take the time to visit their website at www.partnersformh.ca and take the pledge to support mental health in Canada!

For more information  follow me @meldearden & @PartnersforMH on Twitter and check out their Facebook page for news and events surrounding mental health.