CAMH Foundation

04/14/2026

Even aging adults who prefer solitude often had some form of social connection that played an important role in their well-being. When that connection is missing, it can affect mood, loneliness, cognition, and overall health.

CAMH Expert Dr. Eric Brown explains that the goal is not to force socialization. It is to find meaningful connection that fits the individual, whether that is a weekly chat, a regular phone call, or small moments of engagement.

Watch the full Aging and Mental Health Webinar on YouTube at https://ow.ly/KUnw50Yybp7

04/13/2026

"For my entire childhood, I was “the good kid.” I worked hard, got great grades, danced competitively and always pushed through. But in my teens, a few traumatic experiences piled up, and the last one sent me into a spiral.

University intensified everything. I was in a demanding chemistry program, and I wasn’t taking care of myself. Right before finals, I blacked out for what felt like days. When I came to, I powered through my exams anyway – even though I was hearing things and experiencing hallucinations.

Mental illness can be easy to hide--until it’s not. I asked for help and was put on a waiting list – the waiting is its own kind of story. Once I started treatment, I kept moving forward. Not perfectly. Not gracefully. Just consistently. My strategy became simple: wake up, get through the day, go to sleep, repeat.

Moving to Toronto was a turning point. It felt like something I had to do for myself. There, I started rebuilding in small ways--first walking everywhere, then running. That’s when recovery began to feel real: I found something that helped me come back into my body and back into my life.

Running is a big part of my life. I run hundreds of kilometres a year and aim to do a marathon every year for as long as my body lets me. This is what brought me to the Sunrise Challenge. Rising with the sun started in Florida—early morning runs on the beach, the world still asleep, everything quiet. It became the hour that felt most like mine. On a run in Hawaii, I saw a message that stuck with me: you get one sunrise a day. It reminded me that even when life is painful, the world still offers something beautiful every single day--and it’s easy to miss if we don’t pause long enough to notice.

I know what it means to ask for help and wait. I know what it costs when support doesn't come fast enough. That's why I believe in what they're doing: giving people with complex mental illness real tools to build a meaningful life. I want that for the next person who's where I once was.

I rise because recovery is built one step at a time. One day at a time. And I rise because the sunrise is proof that light still comes back, even in the darkest seasons."

-Samantha Mercanti

Will you rise with us? To learn more about CAMH Sunrise Challenge, visit https://ow.ly/9JJH50YH9rZ


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04/10/2026

04/09/2026

We’re proud to share our 2026 CAMH Impact Report, highlighting the progress we’re making together to improve mental health care for all.

This year’s report reflects how we’re working to better meet the needs of diverse communities and build more inclusive, responsive mental health systems.

Some key highlights include:

• Closing the gender gap in mental health
• Strengthening equity through mental health education
• Supporting culturally appropriate, family-centred care
• Improving mental health care for neurodiverse communities
• Transforming forensic care in Canada

None of this work is possible without the support of our community and donors. Thank you for helping build better mental health care for everyone.

Read the full report at https://ow.ly/vXnp50YGvC7

04/07/2026

Caring for someone with dementia can be rewarding but it can also be exhausting. Burnout puts caregivers at risk for developing depression, anxiety, and physical health problems.

CAMH Expert Jordanne Holland explains how caregiver wellbeing directly affects the person with dementia and why supporting caregivers is essential for everyone’s health.

Watch the full Aging and Mental Health Webinar on YouTube at https://ow.ly/9ABj50Yyb2f

03/31/2026

Forgetting your keys happens. Struggling occasionally to find the right word? That can also be a normal part of aging. But what can be a sign of concern?

CAMH Expert Dr. Eric Brown explains the difference between expected age-related changes and potential warning signs of dementia — including persistent memory loss, difficulty with daily tasks, personality changes, and mood shifts.

Watch the full Aging and Mental Health Webinar on YouTube at https://ow.ly/s78l50Yyatg

03/31/2026

International Transgender Day of Visibility is dedicated to honouring transgender people and raising awareness of the discrimination faced by trans people around the world.

Trans people are valid, they are seen, and they matter! ❤️

03/30/2026

You have a reason to care. Now it’s time to put that care to work.

From May 25–29, Canadians are waking up with the sun to raise funds for a future where everyone can access the mental heath care they need, the moment they need it.

One week of sunrises. A whole community rising up.

When you rise up, your light shines bright—and the darkest times are no match for what we can do.

Get up. Show up. Rise up.

Register today at https://ow.ly/KabR50YzkQ0

03/24/2026

Dementia doesn’t have to progress unchecked and up to 40% of dementia cases may be preventable.

Recent breakthroughs show that early diagnosis, lifestyle changes, and treatments can slow progression and improve quality of life for older adults. CAMH Expert Jordanne Holland explains why seeking care early is essential for prevention and managing early-stage dementia.

You can access care resources and watch the full Aging and Mental Health Webinar on YouTube at https://ow.ly/oc4F50Yya3F

03/23/2026

"I grew up watching my father struggle with mental illness. From the time I was about 15 until he passed away, it seemed like he experienced everything: bipolar disorder, depression, manic episodes. This was the mid-90s so there was very little care and awareness. Especially not for men. The attitude was man up, provide for your family, push through. And that was it. It had a huge impact on my family.

I’ve been lucky. I’ve never experienced distress in the same way my father did. But I’ve always known how damaging it is when help doesn’t exist, or when people feel they can’t ask for it.

About ten years ago, I started seeing a therapist. Not because something was wrong or because I was in crisis. Sometimes you need to step back and talk to someone who isn’t involved in your life. Over the years, that support helped me through grief, loss and eventually through my gender transition.

When my firm joined the Sunrise Challenge two years ago, I thought I was doing it for the cause, and I was, but I didn’t expect it to have such a personal impact on me.

For the challenge, I posted simple photos, mostly just being awake at sunrise. Around the same time, I was transitioning. My appearance was changing, but I hadn’t really told people yet. When I eventually did, I was nervous. And almost everyone said the same thing: We know. We saw your posts.

The Sunrise Challenge ended up breaking down a barrier for me without having to make a grand announcement. It made things easier, socially and emotionally. That surprised me.

For me, taking care of my mental health is pretty straightforward. I exercise. I’m mindful about substances. And when it helps, I talk to someone. Therapy isn’t about fixing something, it’s about clarity. It’s like going to the gym for your mind. It’s always helpful to have a trainer, so why wouldn’t you have one for your mental health?

But access is still the problem. Therapy is expensive and not everyone has the means to get the kind of support that helped me.

That’s why I rise. I rise for my dad and son. We shouldn’t have to live in a world where people are told to “man-up” when they are struggling."

- Sasha Lacombe

Will you rise with us? To learn more about CAMH Sunrise Challenge, visit https://ow.ly/h8MM50Yt0rG

03/23/2026

Today, we're thrilled to share that the Labatt family has made a transformational $40 million gift to support what will now be known as the Labatt Family Thriving Minds Program, a collaborative initiative between CAMH, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), and the Garry Hurvitz Centre for Community Mental Health!

This investment will help create a more connected and accessible mental health system for children and youth. Through this partnership, the program will improve coordinated access to care, advance innovative and evidence-informed treatments, and expand the Thriving Minds Information Hub, an online resource that helps families and providers navigate care more easily.

This gift will empower our organizations to do more together and create lasting impact for families!

Learn more:
https://www.camh.ca/en/camh-news-and-stories/labatt-family-donates-40-million-in-support-of-integrated-child-and-youth-mental-health-care

03/19/2026

In celebration of International Women’s Day, our community came together on March 5th to share why women’s health matters to them.

These responses are a reminder that women’s mental health is deeply personal and long overdue for the attention it deserves.

Swipe through to read a few of the reasons our community believes this work matters.

Through womenmind at CAMH, we are working to close gaps in research and transform mental health care for women and gender diverse people.

Learn more at https://www.camh.ca/en/get-involved/join-the-cause/womenmind?utm_campaign=organic_2026&utm_medium=socialpost&utm_source=facebook