March 2013
Mental Health Commission of Canada call for Advisory Council members
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) was formed in 2007 to improve the mental health system through active research and by encouraging discussion and collaboration among governments, service providers, employers, and researchers, as well as Canadians living with mental illness, their caregivers and families.
The MHCC is in the second phase of a 10-year mandate, and has shifted its strategic focus from creating knowledge to creating change. To support this phase, the MHCC is forming a diverse Advisory Council to include 16 individuals from across Canada with expertise in at least one MHCC key priority area.
We are currently seeking Advisory Council applications.
The Advisory Council will be a group of individuals who provide strategic advice and direction as
requested by MHCC leadership, and who will share their personal expertise to inform key initiatives. The Council will support the development, review, and dissemination of projects across MHCC departments.
Council members will also have the opportunity to communicate on behalf of the MHCC at conferences and workshops, and by serving as external ambassadors for the MHCC at public events. Members are expected to actively participate in Council deliberations and activities on a regular basis.
Open seats on the Council are voluntary positions that will be filled for a term of three years. Advisory Council work involves traveling to two dedicated, face-to-face meetings per year. In 2013, these meetings will be held in May and November. All expenses related to participation in the Council, including travel and accommodations for meeting attendance, are paid for by the MHCC.
The Advisory Council is currently looking to fill 7 remaining seats of a total of 16 seats with representation from the following stakeholders:
First Nations/Inuit/Métis (1 seat)
Family caregivers (2 seats)
Persons with lived experience (3 seats)
Community stakeholder (i.e. mental health professional, community worker, nurse, peer supporter) (1 seat)
The Advisory Council is an inclusive group that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Lived experience (with mental illness or through a family member or friend) will be considered an asset in the
selection criteria for all seven new members of the Advisory Council. In establishing membership of the Council, consideration is also given to geographic representation, gender, demographic and ethnic diversity, and French-speaking Canadians.
To apply, please submit the following to the address listed below:
A cover letter and current CV with contact information;
A one-page written summary of your experience with, and/or expertise in, the mental health care system in Canada;
A letter of reference.
This call for Advisory Council members is open until 5p.m. (MST) on Friday April 19, 2013. Short-listed candidates will be contacted the week of April 29, 2013. The first meeting of the Advisory Council will take place in May 2013.
Please send your application package by email, fax, or postal mail to:
Christopher Canning
Mental Health Commission of Canada 10301 Southport Lane, Suite 800 Calgary, Alberta, T2W 1S7
Email: ccanning@mentalhealthcommission.ca Fax: 403.385.4044
The views represented herein solely represent the views of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Production of this document is made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.
