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Why the Canada Post Foundation for 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. Since the Foundation was created, it has delivered more than $4.6 million in grants to almost 100 organizations across Canada.

“Our employees should be extremely proud of the important contribution the campaign makes to groups that help the one in five Canadians affected by mental illness,” notes Deepak Chopra, President and CEO of Canada Post. “Our grants touch lives in communities large and small all across Canada. In this way, our grants reflect our company’s reach.”

“Our Foundation addresses the full range of mental illness,” adds James Roche, Chairman of the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health. “While many other charities, such as hospitals and addiction centres, address mental illness, our Foundation’s support focuses on grassroots efforts, helping to ensure critical community support and programming is available when it’s needed.”

Organizations can seek up to $65,000 to fund specific projects or initiatives to be completed within a 12-month period. A full list of the 2011 recipients is available at www.canadapost.ca/hope.

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