March 29, 2018
Mayor Tory to host Mental Health & Cities Summit to highlight mental health as a national urban issue
Mayor John Tory will host a Mental Health & Cities Summit on April 9 at Hart House at the University of Toronto, in partnership with Toronto Public Health, the Wellesley Institute, CAMH, Civic Action, Downtown Yonge BIA and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
“One of the revelations of my time in office has been that around every corner, from mounting service demands and budgetary pressures to issues like opioids and the shelter crisis, you find the topic of mental health,” said Mayor John Tory. “Cities are increasingly on the front lines of unmet mental health needs and the growing stresses on our diverse residents, urban neighbourhoods and campuses, and the Mental Health & Cities Summit will shine a light on these needs and the potential for action from all levels of government.”
The Mental Health & Cities Summit will bring together politicians, academics, front-line practitioners, employers, and those who see and feel the impact of mental health in their communities every day, with a mandate to identify and drive areas for impact and change.
It will feature Ontario Health Minister Helena Jaczek and Mayors from across Canada including: Gregor Robertson of Vancouver; Bonnie Crombie of Mississauga; Danny Breen of St. John’s, Michael Fougere of Regina, Berry Vbranovic or Kitchener and Matt Brown of London. They will be joined by: Gary Belkin of Thrive NYC; Poppy Jaman, CEO of City Mental Health Alliance UK; Kwame McKenzie of the Wellesley Institute; and City of Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen De Villa, among others.
“Mental health is an integral component of overall health and I’m pleased to be participating in the City’s upcoming summit on this important topic,” said Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health. “Building healthy, equitable and resilient communities involves actions in many settings and from a range of health, government and community stakeholders working in areas including primary prevention, education, housing, supportive care, and treatment. This collaborative effort will continue to help improve the overall health status of the population and build a healthy city for all.”
“What can we do to make your city less stressful? A great city is good for your mental health,” said Dr. Kwame McKenzie, CEO of Wellesley Institute and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
Hosted by Anne Theriault, a Toronto-based writer and mental health advocate, the Summit will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the University of Toronto’s Hart House, located at 7 Hart House Circle, with registration open until April 7.