The Canadian Mental Health Association introduced Mental Health Week (MHW) in 1951 to raise awareness of mental illness. MHW today offers people practical ways to maintain and improve their mental health and support their recovery from mental illness. It also provides an opportunity for all Canadians to reflect on our attitudes and behaviours
toward people living with mental health issues because we all need to work to reduce the discrimination and stigma associated with mental health problems.
This year, the CMHA is launching its Be Mind Full initiative. They are asking Canadians to tell them how they really feel. Are you fine or phine? Too often people claim to be feeling fine when they do not. The result: approximately seven million Canadians 20 percent of the population live with mental illness.
Many do not seek treatment because of the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems.

Information from www.cmha.ca

Positive responses from satisfied patients have helped us reach high performer status among our provincial peer group hospitals.
A report released last week by National Research Corporation Canada (NRCC) recognizes WPSHC as a community hospital high performer' in the 90th percentile for in-patient overall care and services. NRCC is an independent research company that conducts our Patient Experience Survey and performs response analysis. The report Patient Ratings of Overall Care and Likelihood to Recommend Ontario Hospitals includes data from patients cared for between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013. The information released last week highlights and identifies hospitals in Ontario that have achieved performance in the 90th to 99th percentile groups for the questions: Overall, how would you rate the care you received at the hospital? and Would you recommend this hospital to your family or friends?
WPSHC is among five other community hospitals recognized for excellence in the overall question. We're proud of this significant accomplishment. It is very rewarding to know that our patients have responded so positively to an independent and external survey where they can anonymously tell us what they really think about the in-patient care they have received, said Chief Nursing Officer and Director of Patient and Family Centred Care Anne Litkowich. Their responses confirm that we are meeting most patients expectations by delivering excellent and compassionate care.
The survey results serve as important performance indicators and are used to inform our Quality Improvement Plan, to help identify and motivate positive change, and support patient engagement.
This recognition in the overall question speaks to quality and satisfaction with the entire in-patient experience. Staff from many departments, and our physicians, contribute to this accomplishment, said CEO Donald Sanderson.
I thank you all for what you do in service to the community we are privileged to care for.