New Canadian mental health charity announced

The Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation (CPRF) announced today that it is joining forces with Mental Health Partnerships of Canada.

This strategic alliance will create a new national mental health charity. Mental Health Partnerships of Canada (MHPC) will expand fundraising activities and develop leading research and demonstration projects in the field of mental health, mental illness and brain injury.

The joint announcement was made by the Honourable Michael Kirby, Chair of Mental Health Partnerships of Canada, and Kevin McNeil, Chair of the Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation, at the Foundation's annual Silver Dinner event in Toronto. Kirby is also Chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

"This alliance and major new thrust in fundraising will have a transformational impact on the mental health sector in our country," said McNeil.

Kirby stated that, "Through the efforts of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, it is hoped that a national army of volunteers will be created that will help to raise funds for the new Mental Health Partnerships of Canada charity."

The Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation has close to a thirty year history of funding mental health research. It will bring significant research, peer review, and publishing capacity to the new alliance. Mental Health Partnerships of Canada has been established as a separate entity to support the goals of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Michael Howlett, President of the Mental Health Commission of Canada is also President of Mental Health Partnerships of Canada. Kevin McNeil, David Feather, and Stephen Griggs of the CPRF have agreed to join the Board of the MHPC. Glenn Thompson and Graham Scott are current members of the Board of Mental Health Partnerships of Canada.

"Our alliance will create a charity for mental health on a scale with charities such as breast cancer, and heart and stroke," Kirby said. "A national charity and a national army of volunteers are critical if we want to keep mental illness out of the shadows forever."