Human rights and mental health project arrives in Ottawa

For immediate publication

Toronto - Ottawa-area residents will have their say at the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s (OHRC) next human rights and mental health round table session on Wednesday March 2, 2011. The OHRC and the Canadian Mental Health Association – Ottawa Branch will meet with consumer/survivors, members of the mental health community, people with addictions, employers and housing and service providers. They will hear personal stories of discrimination and identify solutions and best practices to deal with discrimination in the areas of housing, services and employment.

“It is critical that we continue to hear directly from people who have experienced mental health issues or addictions,” said Barbara Hall, Chief Commissioner of the OHRC. “You are the best people to identify the barriers to full equality. We also want to hear from people and organizations who share our goal of removing such barriers so that everyone can get an education, a place to live, a place to work and a meaningful way to take part and contribute in our society.”

The OHRC will use information from the Ottawa session and material collected from surveys, roundtable discussions and focus groups to create a policy on human rights and mental health.

The final round table session will be held in North Bay on March 28, 2011

More information, including consultation surveys and the consultation paper on human rights and mental health can be found on the OHRC’s website at www.ohrc.on.ca.

Survey submissions are being accepted until the end of February 2011. Organizations and individuals who would like to submit additional information can make written submissions to the OHRC until the end of March 2011.

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