News

Prescott-Russell Hoarding Response Coalition launches a prevention and education campaign with Fire Departments

Prescott and Russell -September 2021- This fall, the Prescott-Russell Hoarding Response Coalition is launching a new prevention and education campaign aimed at preventing and reducing the negative impacts of hoarding in the households of various municipalities in Prescott and Russell. 

10 steps to a safer, healthier and more comfortable home 

A bilingual fact sheet called "10 Steps to a Safer, Healthier, More Comfortable Home" will be distributed to homes at the same time as the various fire departments conduct their regular fire prevention campaigns in their communities. With the help of a checklist, this sheet simply explains the various ways to prevent the risks of fire, unsanitary conditions and other dangers often associated with hoarding.  The creation and printing of this fact sheet was made possible through the collaboration and financial support of the local HSJCC Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, Prescott and Russell and Akwesasne, the Wellington Guelph Hoarding Network and the Canadian Mental Health Association Champlain East.

Click here to view poster

About the Coalition

The Prescott-Russell Hoarding Response Coalition has been in existence since 2012. Members of this coalition come from various sectors such as mental health, municipal and social services. They work together to prevent negative consequences associated with hoarding such as fires and evictions. A collaborative approach that considers the mental health challenges of individuals has proven to be very effective in helping to maintain the housing and well-being of people affected by hoarding, their families and sometimes even their neighbors. Training, meetings, mutual aid and partnerships between members are part of the Collaborative Agreement of the Prescott-Russell Hoarding Response Coalition. For more information on the Coalition and the services that can help, please contact Johanne Renaud of CMHA CE - Coalition Co-Chair or Annie of CMHA CE - Intensive Case Manager and Coalition member at 1-800-493-8271.

Subway Golf Tournament raises $35k for mental health

Thanks to your support, CMHA Champlain East’s 18^th annual Subway tournament raised an incredible $35,000 for mental health promotion.

The money will enable our branch to continue mental health promotion initiatives in the community, including providing workshops on stress management, suicide awareness and prevention, mental health first aid, and more.

Thanks to all 132 individuals who played at Nation Golf Course in Curran, Ontario on September 17. Your support is truly appreciated!

CMHA shows solidarity with Indigenous peoples in Canada

In honour of the children who died at residential schools and in recognition of the survivors and their families, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) will be changing the colour of its logo to orange until Orange Shirt Day on September 30. Beyond the symbolic, the orange logo also signifies our commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada. For too long, First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples have lived the impacts of systemic racism and colonialism which affects their mental health and well-being.

In 1973, 6-year-old Phyllis (Jack) Webstad was forcibly taken from her family. Arriving at residential school wearing an orange t-shirt, a gift from her grandmother, she was stripped and clothed in a school uniform. Phyllis’s orange shirt has come to represent the terrible harms and legacy of residential schools and to honour those who have suffered. The colour orange is also used by allies to express solidarity with Indigenous peoples in Canada.

CMHA extends our deepest condolences to those who are grieving the many lost children of residential schools and we offer our loving support to those who have been traumatized and retraumatized. We also pledge to help dismantle the racist and colonial practices that are embedded in the mental health system, and in our own history, in the following ways:

• CMHA will engage decision-makers to fully implement the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada, and particularly those calls for Indigenous mental health, healing and well-being.

• We will endeavour to decolonize our existing work and set new standards to support the Calls the Action of the TRC across the CMHA federation.

• CMHA will establish an internal Community of Practice to support the integration of truth and reconciliation into operations, programming and services across the federation.

• We will support the delivery of Indigenous-led mental health services and strengthen our partnerships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations and leaders to create and deliver Indigenous-led mental health programs and services that are rooted in the principles of cultural safety and self-determination.

• We will increase access to Indigenous cultural awareness training for staff members.

There is so much more to do, but we hope that CMHA’s orange logo will stand as a sign of our strong commitment as we work with determination toward reconciliation.