As women continue to experience mental health impacts disproportionately compared to men, Shoppers Drug Mart and the Markham Stouville Hospital Foundation are teaming up to support women’s mental health and advocacy through an annual run.
More than 2,000 community supporters participated in the annual Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women on May 26 in Markham.
The longstanding partnership between Shoppers Women’s Health Foundation and the MSH Foundation has raised $430,000 to date, and these funds will be used to continue the women’s wellness programming at the hospital’s Gulshan & Pyarali G. Nanji Mental Health Services.
The Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women aims to bring the community together to support local women’s programs and is Canada’s largest event series dedicated to women’s mental health.
Support from Run for Women Markham over the past nine years has helped shape the hospital’s women’s health services, including art therapy groups, mindfulness-based stress reduction groups, interpersonal psychotherapy groups and support groups for women diagnosed with or at risk for postpartum depression. These programs are available to all existing Oak Valley Health patients through referral.
“Every year the need for mental health services increases,” said Theresa Guiberas, Outpatient Mental Health Patient Care Manager at Oak Valley Health. “Our team relies on the support of donors to continue to provide access to a wide variety of mental health care and programs dedicated to women’s health.”
There’s still time to support the mental health of women in our community. Through July 1, your donation to the Markham Run will have a double impact (up to $50,000) thanks to the Nange Family Foundation. Donate online at runforwomen.ca/Markham .
Scarlett Liu, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Markham Economist & Sun
