This year’s Federated Health Charities campaign runs from April 3, 2023, to June 30, 2023. During the campaign, we will be highlighting each of our 21 charities and how they work to improve the health and well-being of people across our province.
The sixth charity we are spotlighting is the Canadian Institute for Advancements in Mental Health, formerly known as the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario. After four decades of providing care, support and guidance to tens of thousands of families and individuals affected by schizophrenia, the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario embraced a new vision and mission in 2020, becoming the Institute for Advancements in Mental Health.
The Institute of Advancements in Mental Health (IAM) envisions a society that is inclusive and responsive to everyone impacted by mental health issues so that they can thrive. IAM seeks to innovate in mental health – to redesign society for better mental health – to create environments that are more inclusive, positive and accepting for people with mental illness. This mission is central to IAM’s work to support those living with and affected by the most challenging and stigmatized mental illnesses. IAM works in collaboration with people living with mental health needs to provide care, help them navigate the mental health care system, and develop solutions to deliver positive change that makes their lives better.
I found a home in IAM
IAM also continues to provide counselling, support and assistance in navigating the mental health care system for people and families affected by complex mental illnesses .and mental health challenges. In 2022 alone, IAM reached over 3,600 people through their support line, educational presentations and community events. In addition, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced many organizations to temporarily shut down their services, IAM did not lose even a single day of service to their clients. But with more than one million Ontarians expected to face a mental health or addiction issue each year, the need for IAM’s services continues to grow faster than IAM can meet them.
“It’s really important to continue to receive donations from Federated Health and be part of Federated Health,” said Mary Alberti, Chief Executive Officer, IAM, “Because for our organization, it forms a big part of our charitable donations that we receive. And to be part of Federated Health, I would say it’s twofold, is one is to continue to be able to support the work that we do with the organization and deal with mental health challenges.”
Federated Health Charities have supported the Institute for Advancements in Mental Health since 2005 and we are proud to work with them to raise awareness and support people with mental illness and drive change for better mental health.
To learn more about the Institute for Advancements in Mental Health and the programs they provide, please visit Institute for Advancements in Mental Health. To make a payroll pledge or donation to support Autism Ontario and Federated Health Charities, please visit Federated Health Charities.