Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division

It’s been exactly one week since CMHA Ontario and branch executive leaders from across the province spent the day at Queen’s Park. We asked a few of our leaders what Lobby Day meant for them and their teams. Here’s what they had to say. You’ll hear from ⬇️ Rebecca Shields, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association | York Region & South Simcoe Sheryl Wedderburn , CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association Durham Rashaad Vahed, MSW, ICD.D, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association - Halton Region Catherine Hardman, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association Huron Perth (CMHA) David Smith, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin Pamela Tobin, CEO, CMHA Thames Valley Addiction & Mental Health Services Lynn Hinds, CHE, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association, Brant Haldimand Norfolk Branch Camille Quenneville, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division

Cindy Pestrak and Kim Turley-Smith from our Your Health Space team spent the last two days at the Integrated Care OHT Action Summit, where YHS sponsored the Day 1 coffee break and connected directly with the health care workers doing this critical work every day. Your Health Space provides evidence-based workplace mental health training for Ontario’s health care organizations, designed for leaders and teams who support others while juggling immense pressure themselves. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to chat and share what mental health support looks like in your workplaces. We’re grateful for the chance to show how YHS can help strengthen psychological health and safety across the sector. Learn more: yourhealthspace.ca

Last Thursday, our Ontario branch executive leaders spent the day at Queen’s Park, meeting with representatives from every corner of the province to talk about what’s happening on the ground in community mental health and addictions. These conversations matter. They help ensure the voices of the people we serve are heard and that the work happening across Ontario’s CMHA branches is understood and most importantly, valued and supported.   We’re grateful to every MPP who took the time to listen and ask thoughtful questions about the realities our communities are facing. It was a privilege to speak with you about the programs and supports that make a difference every day.   Across the province, our dedicated branches continue to show up with care. Yesterday was a reminder of the impact we can have when we work together. Thank you to all the MPPs who welcomed us at Queen’s Park for Lobby Day. Tagging all of our incredible branches below: Canadian Mental Health Association Grey Bruce, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) - Toronto, Canadian Mental Health Association | York Region & South Simcoe, Canadian Mental Health Association Simcoe County, Canadian Mental Health Association - North Bay and District, Canadian Mental Health Association - Halton Region, Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge Canadian Mental Health Association Fort Frances Branch, Canadian Mental Health Association - Sudbury/Manitoulin, CMHA Thunder Bay, Canadian Mental Health Association, Ottawa Branch, Canadian Mental Health Association/ Association canadienne pour la santé mentale Champlain East, CMHA Cochrane-Timiskaming, Canadian Mental Health Association Durham, Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin, Canadian Mental Health Association, Hamilton, Canadian Mental Health Association Huron Perth (CMHA), Canadian Mental Health Association, Kenora Branch, Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton Kent Branch, CMHA Thames Valley Addiction & Mental Health Services, CMHA HPE Addictions and Mental Health Services, Canadian Mental Health Association, Muskoka-Parry Sound, Canadian Mental Health Association, Niagara Branch, Canadian Mental Health Association, Waterloo Wellington, Canadian Mental Health Association - Windsor Essex County Branch

Each year on #TransDayofRemembrance, we pause to honour 2 Spirit, trans, non-binary and gender-diverse lives lost to violence, illness, hate, substance use, suicide and institutional failure. This year, the Trans Deaths Monitoring Report recorded 354 trans people globally whose deaths were reported between October 2024 and October 2025. Many more go unreported. We spoke with Eli Carmona (They/Them), Communications Specialist at The 519, about why this day matters to them. For us, we can’t turn away from the reality: trans and gender-diverse people continue to face far higher risks of mental health distress, isolation, substance use and suicide. In Canada, 27% of 2SLGBTQ+ youth reported thoughts of suicide in 2022, compared with 5% of their cisgender, heterosexual peers. In Ontario, 35% of trans people seriously considered suicide in the past year, and 11% attempted. 12% used one or more high-risk illicit drugs. This is a reflection of the harm caused when identity is rejected, care is delayed or denied and safety is out of reach. Today and every day, we remember those we’ve lost and recommit to building a world where no one’s dignity or life is treated as disposable. #TDoR #TransDayOfRemembrance #The519 #CMHAOntario 

The “why” behind Resilient Minds, straight from co-author Steve Fraser. He shares what sparked the program and how it continues to shape the way we support firefighter mental health today. It’s a quick one (about a minute) and worth the watch. You can learn more about the program here: https://lnkd.in/g23XWhGM

There’s a whole world of behind-the-scenes work that makes client-centered care actually possible and most of it never gets the spotlight. Think shorter wait times, smoother intake processes, clearer pathways to care and systems that don’t make people jump through hoops just to get help. That’s where E-QIP comes in. Quality improvement sounds technical, but at its core it’s a simple commitment: when something isn’t working for clients or staff, they test, measure and learn their way into better outcomes. E-QIP’s coaches work with teams across Ontario to make these changes real. They use practical tools (like process maps, PDSA cycles or even creativity boosters like TRIZ) to rethink how care is delivered and help organizations spot patterns and build more responsive systems. It’s the kind of work that transforms experiences without anyone noticing… except the people who need care most. In the video below, Excellence through Quality Improvement Project (E-QIP) Program Manager Ashley Koster, CAPM, shares how thinking differently drives this work every day (and not just during World Quality Week). #WorldQualityWeek #QualityImprovement #ThinkingDifferently #TogetherWeTransform

Couldn't have said this better ourselves. Thank you, Guy Felicella, for such an impactful keynote.

Resilience is built together. Join peers across Ontario in firefighter Resilient Minds training, an evidence-informed, peer-led program designed by and for the first responder community. The program helps individuals manage occupational stress and trauma leading to healthier, more resilient teams. 📅 Nov. 22 | 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Learn more here, or send to someone who could benefit: https://lnkd.in/gS8GEF5z

Work in the agricultural community? Join Agriculture Wellness Ontario Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. for free In the Know virtual mental health training 📆

Today we honour all who served and the families who continue to carry their stories. For many veterans, the toughest battles don’t end when service does. Across Ontario, thousands live with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, chronic pain or substance-use challenges that began with their time in uniform. This November 11, we remember their courage and we work toward a future where every veteran’s healing is met with the same respect as their service. If you or someone you know needs support, call the Veterans Affairs Canada Assistance Service at 1-800-268-7708 or connect with your local CMHA branch.