Friends for Mental Health is a non-profit organization that provides families and friends with the support, information and education they need to help them cope with a loved one's mental illness.

Mental illness affects one in five families. Between 40%-65% of adults with severe and persistent mental illness either live with or receive primary care from their families.

Unlike an intellectual handicap which is often diagnosed early in life, illnesses such as schizophrenia, severe depression, manic depression or personality disorders can abruptly surface in late teens or early adulthood. This profoundly affects not only the individual's life, but the daily routine and stability of the family as well.

In the past 25 years, many associations for families of the mentally ill have sprung up to fill the ever-increasing need for information and support. In Quebec alone, there are close to forty groups which are part of la Fédération des familles et amis de la personne atteinte de maladie mentale (F.F.A.P.A.M.M.) which began in 1986 and has been funded since 1991 by le Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux.

Friends for Mental Health-West Island (FMH) was started in 1981 on a volunteer basis by family members who were concerned about the lack of available resources and support for relatives of the mentally ill. Since then, FMH has expanded to include a qualified staff to pursue its goal of providing information, education and support to families of the mentally ill to help them fight feelings of isolation so they can deal more effectively with their unique problems. The association now has over 650 members and receives funding from both Centraide,  the Agence

de développement de réseaux locaux de santé et de services sociaux Montréal-Centre and West Island Community Shares. It also relies on private and corporate donations and annual membership fees ($20 ).

We have a self-help program for the relatives and friends of the mentally and emotionally ill. We provide a number of forums for discussions of schizophrenia, manic depression, severe depression, personality disorders or other mental illnesses. In addition to conferences, support and discussion groups. FMH advocates for improved services for the mentally ill and offers educational courses given by trained family members.

We have an effective respite program providing services to lessen the stress and isolation often experienced by families of the mentally ill. A trained respite worker can make home visits or accompany the relative on brief outings or to appointments (hospital, welfare office, etc.). In addition, respite in the form of specially planned activities offer the ill family member a chance to meet new friends while giving the family a break.

Our family support program provides specific counseling and follow-up during difficult periods. The aim of this personalized program is to help family members recognize their strengths and better deal with special problems.

FMH also tries to make itself better known in the community and works with other organizations to improve mental health services and to educate the public and fight the stigma of mental illness.