Mental Health Promotion - For Community Agencies
Quote from World Health Organization: "without mental health, there is no health"
New to Canada? Separated from your children?
Are you concerned about the impact on your children? Many families temporarily separate during the process of coming to Canada. During long separations, it can be hard to maintain strong family ties, roles and supports.
Read stories about family separation and reunification, find tips for newcomers and other materials on the Family Separation and Mental Health website.
Mental Health Promotion
Changing times, changing minds
Our understanding of mental health is changing. It used to be that if person lacked signs and symptoms of a mental illness then they were mentally healthy. According to the World Health Organization (PDF), mental health today is seen as:
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A state of wellbeing in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with normal stressors of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a positive contribution to his or her community.
Mental Health Promotion at Toronto Public Health
Our approach emphasizes:- the person/ community/ agency as the expert in their own life
- a diversity, access and equity framework
- empowering individuals and communities to flourish and bloom by recognizing strengths and providing supports that promote optimal wellness
- normalizing, validating, and educating as a vehicle to decrease the stigma and shame surrounding mental health
- Our focus is to promote mental health and wellness by building on the strengths of individuals and groups within the community
