This week in Ottawa I attended a reception hosted by the Canadian Mental Health Association to recognize the CMHA’s 57th Mental Health Week which is taking place from May 5th to May 11th.

The purpose is to raise awareness about mental health issues and increase respect for people with mental illness.

This year's theme is "Mental Health: Make it Your Business" and focuses on the role that employers and businesses can play in making their workplace a mentally healthy and productive environment.

The Canadian Mental Health Association is one of Canada’s oldest voluntary, non-profit organizations with over 170 branches in every province and territory.

Nationwide, the CMHA’s mission is to promote the mental health of all and to support the resilience and recovery of people with mental illness though advocacy, education, research and service.

Our local chapter of CMHA has been in Kelowna for over 40 years and has been at the leading edge of providing innovative services and supports to assist people with mental illness to develop the personal tools to lead meaningful and productive lives.

CMHA Kelowna takes the approach that all citizens in our community have the right to a roof over their head, an opportunity to earn a decent income, and to access meaningful work, educational, social and recreational activities and treatment that supports their recovery.

I was pleased to see that part of the $1.2 million invested in our constituency under the federal government’s Homelessness Partnering Initiative went to CMHA Kelowna in conjunction with BrainTrust Canada.

Together, under the direction of Executive Director Shelagh Turner (CMHA) and Doug Rankmore (BrainTrust Canada) the two organizations are helping homeless individuals who are disabled as a result of brain injury and will provide affordable housing solutions and life skills training to prevent future homelessness in the Kelowna area.

We are fortunate to have a network of organizations under the Poverty Homelessness Action Team of the Central Okanagan (PHAT-CO) working within the community to address the complex issue of homelessness and I feel it is important to make the community aware of their efforts as often as possible in order to ensure that they continue to receive the community’s support.

In this respect, I am happy tonight to be attending the opening of the CMHA Kelowna 3rd Annual Art Amongst Us show entitled “Through our Eyes” during the Kelowna Life and Arts Festival at the Rotary Centre for the Arts. I encourage every one of you to come out this weekend to show your support not only for the many gifted artists who will be displaying their work but for the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Mental illness has a huge impact on our community. Recent estimates in British Columbia show that approximately 136,000 adults in this province have severe addiction and/or mental illness and between 8,000 and 15,000 of these people are homeless.

As well, BrainTrust Canada indicates that up to 80% of homeless individuals live with some form of cognitive disability and do not respond to traditional approaches of support.

By working together, CMHA Kelowna and BrainTrust Canada are confident that they will develop long-term strategies to help these individuals find and keep stable housing.

It will take a concerted effort on all our parts to address homelessness in our community and find the solutions that will work for us. Supporting our local organizations and their efforts is key.

If you have any questions relating to this column or any the federal government issue, do not hesitate to contact me at 470-5075 or e-mail me at ron@cannan.ca. My staff and I will be happy to assist you in any way we can.