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Why the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Illness and Mental Health*

Living in virtually every community across the country, Canada Post employees have a long and proud history of helping others and giving to worthy causes. When Canada Post set out to choose a corporate cause, surveyed employees felt health, education and sport were the most important areas to support. The company supports education thorough its many literacy programs and was the title sponsor of the Canada Post Freestyle Team, so a health-based issue seemed to be a logical choice for its cause of choice.

Further investigation identified areas where the need for support was greatest, and one area that stood out was mental health. According to Health Canada, 20 per cent of Canadians, or six million, will suffer from a mental illness at some time in their lives, and the remaining 80 per cent will be affected by the mental illness of a family member, friend or colleague. In addition, the cost of mental illness to the Canadian economy in terms of health care and lost productivity is estimated at a staggering $51 billion a year.

In October 2007, Canada Post officially announced mental health as its cause of choice and the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health was formed in June 2008.

Moya Greene, president and CEO of Canada Post, has taken a lead in championing support for this often-ignored illness. "Mental illness and mental health have been neglected in Canada for far too long,” Greene says. "It is time mental well-being is positioned prominently within both health and social policies. This company, and its employees, are bold enough to bring this issue out of the darkness, from behind closed doors and into the public light where it can best be addressed." Ms. Greene was named a Champion of Mental Health, by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, in October 2007.

Phil Upshall, national executive director of the Mood Disorders Society of Canada and founding member of the Canadian Alliance for Mental Illness and Mental Health, is one of the Foundation’s board members. "Mental health is well understood by many Canadian corporate leaders, but financial and other support goes elsewhere because of the stigma of mental illness. We need to admit that mental illness exists, and we need to talk about it and advocate for change. Canada Post employees can be very proud of their leadership in this area.

*While the official name of the Foundation is the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Illness and Mental Health, for ease of communication it is commonly referred to as the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health

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