FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE

Date:  2008-04-24                                                                  N^o / No.: RSR-RHA-080402

ACTIVITIES MARKING MENTAL HEALTH WEEK 2008

Campbellton N.B. –  The New Horizon Committee of the Restigouche Health Authority is organizing a whole range of activities at the Restigouche Hospital Centre (RHC) to mark Mental Health Week (MHW) 2008, which will take place from May 5 to 11.

The theme of this year’s MHW, “Mental Health: Make it Your Business,” highlights measures that employers and companies can take to make workplaces healthy and productive environments for mental health.  This national awareness raising week will give Canadians many opportunities to learn more about the importance of mental health and how to achieve good mental health in their daily living. 

Activities for everyone

The program includes activities for the general public, mental health professionals, and RHC patients and their families. According to Nathalie Langlois, Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist and one of the organizers, this year’s programming is the most extensive to date.  “We want to make this week a true celebration that will give the largest possible number of people the chance to participate,” she explains.  “It was important for us to invite the community to the Restigouche Hospital Centre in order to demystify the taboos that still surround psychiatric care facilities.”  The full program for the week is available on the Health Authority’s Website at www.santerestigouchehealth.com.  The Canadian Mental Health Association’s Website at www.cmha.ca also provides further information on MHW. 

Highlights of the week

· Wednesday, May 7: Bilingual Mass with Bishop Valéry Vienneau, at 1:15 p.m., in the gymnasium of the RHC.

· Friday, May 9: “Shedding Light on Psychiatry Work” information stands in the gymnasium of the RHC from 12:00 to 6:30 p.m.

· Friday, May 9: Guided tours of various RHC departments leaving at 1:15, 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. from the gymnasium.

Humour in support of mental health

MHW will end on a high note with a comedy show presented by two well-known humorists from the region, André Roy and Luc LeBlanc. The show will take place on Friday, May 9, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the gymnasium of the RHC. Entitled “Robert et Leroux – 1 heure plus tard dans les Maritimes,” this insightful comedy will help demystify mental health problems and will touch on several stereotypes and clichés concerning RHC patients and services in order to make the public and the community more aware of mental health. 

All tickets are available for the price of $10 and may be purchased from the Uni Village in Campbellton or by contacting Suzanne Landry at 789-6760 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

The New Horizon Committee

The New Horizon Committee exists to make the RHC better known as New Brunswick’s centre of mental health expertise and to implement mental health activities designed to maintain and develop knowledge in the field of psychiatry and mental health.  It is made up of professionals working in the mental health field.