The Mental Health Task Force is a concerned group of staff, faculty and students at the University of Victoria who are committed to promoting mental health on campus and supporting those in our community whose lives are touched by mental illness.
This year, MHTF is focusing on the reduction of stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness.  We hope to create an open and inclusive campus environment at the University of Victoria by: facilitating a coordinated response to mental health issues at UVic, increasing awareness of mental health resources, and protecting the rights of people living with mental illness.

The MHTF organizes events that help to combat the myths, misinformation and prejudices that individuals may have when it comes to issues of mental illness and to dealing with those living with mental illness.  We achieve our purpose by:

• facilitating a coordinated response to mental health issues at UVic through, information sharing, discussion and connecting groups and individuals concerned with mental health issues
• raising our own awareness of mental health issues and that of students, staff, faculty and senior administration
• seeking support and leadership from senior administration for mental health issues
• increasing campus community awareness of mental health resources on/off campus
• working to reduce/eliminate stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness on campus
• promoting respect, civility, understanding and compassion as the foundation of a mentally healthy, caring campus community
• enhancing the human rights of people living with mental illness
• meeting monthly from September through June
• providing at least 3 events/workshops each year (making sure that students, staff and faculty form the target audience for at least one event each every year

MHTF Events:

• Information and Networking Fair – hosted Out of the Shadows and Into the Sunshine. Community and University organizations displayed their services for the approximately 500 attendees on October 21, 2010. 
• Mental Health First Aid – training program that helps individuals develop the skills to identify when someone is struggling with mental health issues and how to connect them with appropriate services.  (Proposed for March 11 + 12)
• Panel Discussions – sponsoring one day of panel discussions with invited campus-based experts on mental health and illness. (Cindy Player, MHTF Chair, is a panelist in the upcoming Critical Conversations: Provost’s Diversity Research Forum)
• Movie Night – movie screening where a mental health issue is central, followed by a facilitated discussion. (Proposed for mid-February)