Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 and Canadian Mental Health Association announce partnership to promote Mental Health Week
TORONTO, ONTARIO – Understanding mental health is a critical part of overall wellness of public transit workers and riders. This year, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113, which represents more than 12,000 people who operate and maintain the TTC, is partnering with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) on Mental Health Week to bring that message to our public transit system.
May 2 to 8 is CMHA Mental Health Week, a time when people in Canadian communities, schools, workplaces, and legislatures rally to shift societal beliefs and perceptions about mental health. It helps promote behaviours and attitudes that foster well-being, support good mental health, and create a culture of understanding and acceptance. Mental health is something we all have, and we all need to take care of it.
“For the last two years we have all dealt with the many challenges arising from physical illness and infection,” said Marvin Alfred, President of ATU Local 113, “but we can’t lose sight of our mental health and well-being.”
“Transit workers and riders have been under enormous stress, and we have seen rising levels of conflict and violence in our transit system,” he continued. “We are partnering with CMHA to address the stigma around mental health and encourage everyone to speak up, care for each other, and get the support we need.”
“We applaud and thank ATU Local 113 for helping shift how mental health is understood.” says Margaret Eaton, National CEO of CMHA, “This Mental Health Week we are focusing on the human capacity for empathy – the ability to understand each other, even if we do not agree. It is key to reducing conflict, whether on the transit system, in relationships or in society at large. ATU Local 113’s donation is empathy in action.”
For Mental Health Week this year – May 2-8, 2022 – we encourage our members and transit riders to #GetReal about how to help. We all need to be there for each other when times are hard and be ready to listen and understand.
