NEWS RELEASE
CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION YORK SOUTH SIMCOE
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Canadian Mental Health Association York South Simcoe (CMHA) is proud to announce that online participant registration is open for their annual signature event, Mental Health in Motion, CMHA’s Ride, Run and Walk for Mental Health.
On Sunday, June 14, 2020, more than 800 people will gather at Upper Canada Mall to run, walk and ride 5, 20, 60 or 100 km in support of community-based mental health programs and services for those who live in our community. We anticipate this year’s event will raise $255,000 for good mental health close to home.
Mental Health in Motion 2020 will specifically support MOBYSS (Mobile York South Simcoe), Ontario's first and only mobile health and mental health clinic for youth aged 12-25.
Travelling throughout York Region and South Simcoe, MOBYSS stops at schools, community centres and youth shelters, providing free, non-judgmental health and mental health services. Last year more than 5,000 youth climbed on board the bus to meet with our nurse practitioners, social workers and peer support specialists who were able to give support and guidance as well as immediate crisis care to youth who thought they had nowhere else to turn.
Beyond raising funds, Mental Health in Motion 2020 encourages people to engage with their own mental health by being physically active and enjoying quality time with friends and family in a community setting.
“We hope this event creates better awareness of Canadian Mental Health Association within our community, including the programs and serves we offer right here at home. We want people to know that all the funds raised by our community stay in our community to benefit our community,” says Rebecca Shields, CEO, CMHA York South Simcoe.
The family event 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 put ‘Mental Health in Motion’.
Participants can register at www.cmhainmotion.ca. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, please contact Catherine Matzig at [email protected] or 905.841.3977, ext. 2224.
Quick facts
• For more than 100 years, Canadian Mental Health Association has provided community-based mental health care 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 South Simcoe 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.
• One in 25 Canadians experienced a substance use disorder this year.
• One in nine 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 among youth.
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