Transforming Lives Awards 2009: A Gala for CAMH

• Rick Green: Rick Green has entertained Canadians with his comedy for decades and he has been nominated seventeen times for entertainment industry awards. When Rick realized he had ADHD, he got help, and now strives to get the word out that ADHD is a real condition that can treated and is launching a nationwide tour and a revolutionary website, www.TotallyADD.com to educate and empower those living with or affected by the disorder.
• Betty-Lou Kristy: Betty-Lou Kristy became dependant on alcohol and other drugs and her mental health deteriorated. Many years and many hospitalizations later, Betty-Lou was able to stop her dependency altogether and improve her mental health and she dedicates her time to several important causes concerning youth, mental health and addiction in the Halton region of Ontario.
• Brian Glasgow: overcame homelessness and addition to become a beloved family man and provider.
• Bill MacPhee: has founded a successful publishing company while he had schizophrenia.
• Jesse Bigelow: overcame schizophrenia and now helps families dealing with this disease
• Kathy Bedard: overcame an addiction to prescription pain medication ( a common event) and will be attending post secondary education.

This gala supports CAMH's 27-acre redevelopment of its Queen St. West facilities in Toronto and its international work. CAMH is lifting the stigma i.e. the mask - on mental health and addiction issues affecting more than 25% of Canadians. As the mask hides need, blocks communication, and can delay finding urgently needed care, we need to lift the stigma on mental health and addiction issues.

About Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

"As Canada's leading addiction and mental health teaching hospital, CAMH is internationally renowned for clinical excellence and providing innovative care to more than 20,000 people each year. CAMH physicians and scientists conduct groundbreaking research and reach out to the global community through various international health projects. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is the largest mental health and addiction organization in Canada and is a teaching hospital fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. There are central clinical and research facilities in Toronto and 26 locations throughout the province that provide communities with information that will help identify and find community CAMH services, offer support in policy development, systems planning, evaluation, community training, research, program development, health promotion and prevention. In recognition of the outstanding work that CAMH does, our organization has been designated as a Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre."[camh.net]

According to CAMH, Transforming Lives Awards 2009 raised $ 650,000 the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, It was a fine evening for a worthy cause. As most people know a close relative or friend who is effected by either an addiction or a mental condition, it is important for more awareness and treatment and CAMH seems to be doing a great job of this. So if you didn't go this year, you must go next year! Check back here for details! You can find out more about CAMH or to support CAMH online by clicking on this page!