DRAWING ATTENTION TO MENTAL HEALTH

Re: A personal struggle revealed, May 12.

How wonderfully appropriate that George Smitherman was inspired by
the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's Courage to Come Back
Awards ceremony to share his own successful struggle with drugs and
alcohol with Toronto Star reporter Robin Harvey.

Harvey received a CAMH Courage Award this week for transcending her
own challenge of bipolar disorder.

When the minister of health of Canada's largest province talks
publicly about his personal substance use problems, he performs a
real public service. He draws attention to the fact that addiction
and mental health issues affect more than one in every five Ontarians.

He helps break down the insidious stigma against these health
problems that still keeps more than 60 per cent of affected people
from seeking help. And he offers hope and encouragement to our
patients, clients and families who realize that they are not alone.

As our health minister, Smitherman makes important professional
decisions every day that impact the health of Ontarians. I believe
that his personal decision to go public with his own substance use
problems will prove to be one of his most powerful legacies.

Smitherman is to be congratulated for sharing his story so generously
with so many -- a story that will make a real and positive difference
to the millions of Ontarians currently struggling with addiction and
mental health problems.

Paul Garfinkel,

President and CEO,

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto