September 25, 2006

ONTARIO’S PREMIER SUPPORTS SELF-HELP AWARENESS WEEK

Toronto, ON – Premier McGuinty has extended his best wishes to all those celebrating Self-Help Awareness Week (SHAW) across the province from September 24th to September 30th, 2006.Under the banner of “Building Connections,” SHAW will see self-help support groups in many Ontario communities celebrate peer support through a variety of local events and activities. For more information call (416) 487-4355 or toll free 1-888-283-8806 or visit

SHAW is organized by the Ontario Self-Help Network (OSHNET), a program of the Self-Help Resource Centre funded by the Ministry of Health Promotion. OSHNET has been linking and supporting self-help initiatives throughout Ontario since 1991. There are currently 18 regional self-help information centres affiliated with OSHNET in Ontario as well as countless independent and associated self-help groups.

Self-help and peer support groups are informal networks of individuals who have a common experience or issue and who come together to share information and support each other. Self-help groups that are active in communities across Ontario include bereavement, addiction, abuse, family/parenting, seniors, physical or mental health, and care giving, to name a few.

“Self-help is really about individuals empowering themselves by taking charge of the issues each is facing, whether that be a physical, mental or emotional challenge. Through their active involvement in peer support, participants gain confidence, exchange information, and acquire new skills that allow them to cope with their specific circumstance,” says Spencer Brennan, Co-Coordinator of the non-profit Ontario Self-Help Network (OSHNET). Through their dedication, self-help supporters and participants are people committed to improving lives and building supportive communities. SHAW is a way to acknowledge and celebrate these individuals’ contribution to others, to their communities, and to a happier and healthier Ontario.

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For more information on Self-Help Awareness Week activities or to set up an interview with self-help groups or individuals contact Spencer Brennan, Co-Coordinator, OSHNET, (416) 487-4355 or (Toll Free) 1-888-283-8806. On the Internet, visit