Ottawa women seek to nullify stigma of mental illness

Two Ottawa women have launched a city-wide mental health awareness crusade to break the stigma associated with mental illness. Laura Kidd, 19, and Riley Grace, 21, have created a video that tells their personal stories of trade with mental illness in their families as part of the Royal Ottawa Hospital's "You Know Who I am" video contest.

Their video was inspired, in part, by the catastrophic suicide of 14-year-old Daron Richardson. The daughter of Ottawa Senators' coach Luke Richardson took her own life in November. Heather Badenoch, spokeswoman for the hospital, said the videos produced for the contest have helped many people in the area. "We hear from people that say family members or they themselves have gotten help because of the campaign," she said. "It makes people realize mental illness has come out of the dark shadows and onto the facade page."

CDA plans mental health awareness constrain

The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai in co-operation with Dubai Health ability (DHA) has announced plans to launch a six-month mental health awareness campaign starting from October 9.The campaign aims to educate the community about the concept of positive mental health and give the necessary advice to maintain it, as well as mental health facts and indicators, said Khaled Al Kamda, CDA director general at a press conference held at CDA’s headquarters on Monday.

 The two authorities seek to spread awareness on social mental health in public and private schools, universities, and Majalis Al Mamzar and Al Rashidiya.The campaign coincides with the World Mental Health Day, commemorated by World Health Organisation on October 10. The campaign will be launched on October 9 at Mirdif City Centre, said Al Kamda.

'This initiative is part of CDA’s commitment to provide high quality social and health care services for the community. The campaign is an essential step in establishing stronger linkages between CDA and other concerned government departments to achieve the goals of social integration outlined by CDA,'