Vision & Mission

Our Vision: mentally healthy people in a healthy society

Our Mission

As a nation-wide organization, CMHA facilitates access to the resources people require to improve mental health and community integration, build resilience and support recovery from mental illness through:

• Building capacity
• Influencing public policy
• Providing services and supports
• Developing resources

Our Values

• Embracing the voice of people with mental health issues
• Promoting inclusion
• Working collaboratively
• Influencing the social determinants of health (housing, justice etc.)
• Focusing on the mental health needs of all age groups
• Using evidence to inform our work
• Being transparent and accountable

Framework for Support

The Framework is the central philosophy guiding the activities of CMHA. This philosophy holds that a mental health consumer (someone who uses mental health services) is at the centre of any supportive mental health system. The Community Resource Base, as shown below, outlines a range of possible resources in addition to the formal mental health system which can provide support to a person with mental illness. Housing, income, work and education represent four basic elements of citizenship. The Framework for Support is referred to as the most comprehensive model for mental health planning by federal and provincial governments as well as by the Centre for Community Change in the US, and the Government of Ireland. Read CMHA National's most recent edition of the Framework for Support document, profiled on CMHA National's Public Policy page, for more information on how the model builds empowerment and recovery.