News Update

14 Jan 2010 -Durham Region TAMI Coalition is One of 17 Youth-Focused Anti-Stigma Programs Selected for Evaluation by the Mental Health Commission of Canada

DMHS is a proud member of Durham Region’s Talking About Mental Illness (TAMI) Coalition. The TAMI Coalition is a network of consumers, service providers, youth organizations, and school boards that educates young people about mental illness. Education increases knowledge and reduces stigma and discrimination against individuals with mental health problems.

The TAMI Coalition of Durham Region was recently selected by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) as one of 17 youth-focused stigma reduction programs across Canada. MHCC will evaluate the selected programs to identify best practices in stigma reduction and ensure that these practices can be adopted nationwide.

DMHS TAMI representative Frances Harris says, “We are delighted that the MHCC recognizes the TAMI Coalition’s innovative and effective work in reducing stigma among local youth. This partnership will focus attention on the need to challenge stigma and help to identify best practices in stigma reduction.”

The selection of anti-stigma programs for evaluation is the first phase of MHCC’s Opening Minds project, a 10-year national anti-stigma and anti-discrimination initiative.

For more information on Opening Minds, including a summary of the selection process and its results along with brief descriptions of the selected programs, please visit the Mental Health Commission website.

For more information on the TAMI Coalition, please visit http://www.whitbymentalhealthcentre.ca/tami.htm

For information on any DMHS service, please visit our website www.dmhs.ca or contact our Central Intake team at 905-666-0831, ext. 234.