A community campaign by CMHA North and West Vancouver with support from community leaders
This Mental Health Week, join the #TogetherNorthShore movement to celebrate the role of a community response to mental health, substance use, abuse and family conflict, be it through PACT or your own communities.
Why this is needed
Mental health is important at every stage of our lives. We know that mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time either through their own experience, or that of a family member, friend or colleague.
In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness. Racial, ethnic and gendered disparities in mental health care access and utilization have also been well documented throughout the years. This fact is important when we consider the demographic of our community: did you know that the North Shore community is one of the most diverse communities in Vancouver? Over a quarter of the population identifies as a visible minority and 33 per cent of the population reports non official languages as their mother tongue.
Stigma and discrimination attached to mental illnesses and substance use problems present a serious barrier to not only mental health diagnosis and treatment, but also to access to employment, housing, and other basic necessities. Stigma and a persisting police-centered response to mental health both creates and deepens social marginalization.
Enter PACT (Peer Assisted Care Team) – an alternative or auxiliary service to a police response related to mental health, offering a health and community response to mental health with more choice and self-determination. PACT is CMHA North and West Vancouver’s creation and the North Shore’s route to a safer, more empathic and trauma informed response to mental health, substance use, abuse and family conflict.
Your role and how to get involved
If there is one action we’d welcome above all others, it’s your active participation in #TogetherNorthShore on May 2nd and during CMHA’s mental health week (May 2-6).
How to get involved:
1. Photo: On May 2nd, post a photo of yourself holding hands with your support system (parent, friend, partner, etc) on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn (or all four!)
- Have any cool tattoos, bling, nails or mehndi? Showcase your identity, culture and personality.
- If you don’t have someone available for the pic, simply prop your phone and take a photo of yourself holding your hands in front of you.
2. Caption: Use the captions below to celebrate the role of community in offering mental health support and tag up to three folks in your support network/ allies to join in on the conversation and keep the momentum going.
- If you are comfortable, free free to share your experience of mental health stigma/ barriers to mental health access/utilization
3. Leading key messages to include:
- North Shore, we are stronger together than we are apart. That’s why I’m participating in CMHA North and West Vancouver’s #TogetherNorthShore campaign during #MentalHealthWeek to highlight those who have been a support for me <tag friends/support network>.
- #TogetherNorthShore celebrates the importance of community in supporting mental health, while also raising awareness of PACT, BC’s first civilian-led crisis team.
- PACT (Peer Assisted Care Team) acts as an alternative or auxiliary service to a police response related to mental health, substance use, abuse and family conflict, offering a trauma-informed health and community response with more choice and self determination. Text PACT on 778-839-1831.
See additional facts below that you can amplify.
4. Tag CMHA North and West Vancouver:
- Facebook – @CMHA.NWV
- Instastram – @cmhanorthwestvancouver
- Twitter – @CMHA_NWV
5. Hashtags: #TogetherNorthShore and #MakeAPACT #MentalHealthWeek
PACT will build capacity in the community to better support those experiencing distress or crises. Support and invest in a compassionate and preventative approach to mental health, substance use, abuse and family conflict by donating here.
Some facts you can share
- Research shows 44% of people who rate their mental health as poor in BC would be unwilling to call 911 during a crisis
- One in five interactions with police in BC involve someone with a mental-health disorder.
- Thanks to the success of the pilot in the North Shore, BC’s Provincial Government announced a $1.26 million investment to create new peer assisted care teams in New Westminster and Victoria and expand the North Shore team.
- To contact PACT call 1-888-261-7228 or text 778-839-1831 – available in English and Farsi. Service Hours: Thursday to Sunday, 6 pm to 12 midnight
Download social graphics
Click on a thumbnail to download the full size graphic below:
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