Powerful Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Film Leaves No One Behind

Against the backdrop of a growing mental health crisis, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is putting a stake in the ground by launching the world’s largest fundraising campaign to support hospital-based mental health research, starting with a new advertising platform: 'No one left behind.' 

It couldn’t be coming at a more critical time. 

According to the World Health Organization, more than 450 million people - including 6.7 million Canadians - are struggling with mental illness, making it the leading cause of disability worldwide. More than half of Canadians will have dealt with some form of mental illness by the age of 40, and more than 11 people per day - totalling more than 4,000 people per year - lose their life to suicide.*  

Developed in partnership with Toronto agency Camp Jefferson, 'No one left behind,' is the centrepiece of the $500 million fundraising campaign, making it the world's largest fundraising campaign for hospital-based mental health research. The funding will go in part toward building the new CAMH Research & Discovery Centre - a state-of-the-art facility that will lead to ground-breaking research to get people the solutions they need.

“We believe now is the time to go further than ever to support those facing mental illness,” says Sarah Chamberlin, CAMH Foundation’s CMO and VP of community giving and engagement. “Our work over the past 25 years has helped to bust stigma, raise awareness and spark conversations about mental health. Now it's time to go further.”

The brand platform is a rallying cry, urging people to stand together and help build a future where no one is left behind. It aligns with CAMH’s history of venturing into the grittiest, most stigmatised areas of healthcare that people are reluctant to address.

The integrated campaign includes TV, social, out-of-home and radio, and is led by a powerful 60-second spot developed by Camp Jefferson.

“We wanted this campaign to call out to those who share the same ambition and attitude of the very people who are fighting daily to uncover new cures for those living with, and affected by, mental illness”, says Camp Jefferson ECD Julie Nikolic. “We feel this embodies CAMH’s unbreakable spirit against the seemingly insurmountable odds they face. It lets people who may be suffering or who have loved ones who are going through difficult times know that CAMH will keep going the distance for them.”

The campaign will run in Ontario until May 31st, 2023.