NEWS RELEASE
CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
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CMHA York South Simcoe is proud to announce that online participant registration is open for their new signature event, Mental Health in Motion, CMHA’s Ride, Run and Walk for Mental Health, which is to be held on June 23.
For the past six years, CMHA YSS has joined over 30 CMHA community branches across the country to participate in Ride Don’t Hide, the largest mental health bike ride in Canada, raising just over $1 million for essential mental health programs, services, workplaces and schools across Canada. In recognition of 100 years servicing the community, CMHA YSS decided to rebrand the local Ride, Run, Walk event to raise the profile of mental health and the impact of the local CMHA branch.
The new name was chosen by over 4,000 community members, ambassadors, and donors through a voting contest that ran last month.
Mental Health in Motion, which will replace the branch’s involvement in Ride Don’t Hide, will raise funds for MOBYSS, Ontario’s first, and community funded, mobile youth walk-in clinic, reaching youth where they are, when they need it, by removing barriers and welcoming them with services (mobyss.ca). The event also aims to engage and encourage public awareness around their own mental health by being physically active and enjoying quality time with friends and family in a community setting.
“We are motivated to create an event that will inspire greater CMHA brand recognition and more local involvement within our community, so that they can experience and feel impact in their own backyard and know that investments in mental health care are being made locally,” says Rebecca Shields, CEO, CMHA York South Simcoe.
The family event will be held at Upper Canada Mall and welcomes riders of all levels to participate in a 100, 60, 20, or 5 km route. Walkers and runners can also register for the 5 km trek around the streets of Newmarket to help bring ‘Mental Health in Motion’.
“We are so grateful to have such an incredible number of community ambassadors behind us. The insight, passion and creativity offered in choosing our new name is inspiring. We can’t wait for the big day.” Shields adds.
Participants can register at cmhainmotion.ca. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Heather Croft at [email protected].
Quick Facts
- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is celebrating its 100th year in providing community mental health in Canada in more than 330 communities across every province. CMHA provides advocacy and resources that help to prevent poor mental health and mental illness, support recovery and resilience, and enable Canadians to flourish and thrive while developing a support system in their own community.
- CMHA York Region Branch was founded in 1984 and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with mental illnesses. Through several locations across York Region and South Simcoe, we help people learn how to maintain their mental health, look for and identify the signs of mental illness, and get help and support when they need it.
- CMHA York South Simcoe fundraises to support key initiatives to improve access to care for youth, adults, their families and caregivers and underserved ethno-racial communities.
- 1 in 2 Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime.
- 75 per cent of all mental illness begins in the teenage years
- 1 in 25 Canadians experienced a substance use disorder this year.
- 1 in 9 Canadians ages 15 and over sought help for a mental health concern this year.
- 1.2 million Canadian children and youth experience a mental illness, but less than 20 per cent receive help. Suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst youth.
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