Behind every strong community is someone working tirelessly to support mental well-being. The IPAC Award for Distinguished Service in Mental Health Promotion honours individuals or organizations with a proven track record of impactful, creative, and sustained mental health programming.
This award celebrates those who go beyond the standard approach—developing innovative initiatives that support individuals or entire communities in meaningful, lasting ways. Their work breaks down stigma, builds resilience, and promotes mental wellness where it’s needed most.
If you know someone who fits this description, click here to nominate them today!
The final deadline for nominations is 11:59pm on April 28th, 2025.
Need some inspiration? Take a look at what past award winners have accomplished:
2024
Durham Family Services Division (Regional Municipality of Durham)
Family Services Durham (FSD) is recognized for its innovative, community-based approach to mental health care, ensuring accessible services for vulnerable and underserved populations. Through partnerships with Ontario Works, local health clinics, and emergency services, FSD has expanded mental health outreach, including mobile crisis response, trauma counseling, and specialized support for seniors, individuals with developmental disabilities, and victims of domestic violence. In 2023, FSD served over 2,700 residents, achieving a 52% improvement in mental health symptoms, surpassing industry standards and demonstrating a scalable model for holistic, trauma-informed care.
2023
Susan Kyle (Ontario at the Ministry of the Attorney General, Criminal Law Division)
Susan Kyle, ADAG of the Criminal Law Division at Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General, is a dedicated leader in mental health promotion, particularly in addressing vicarious trauma among legal professionals. She led the creation of a groundbreaking Mental Health Needs Assessment in partnership with CAMH and the Ontario Crown Attorneys Association—an initiative that has become a model for other divisions. Her work has resulted in concrete cultural change, including management training and staff-wide education sessions that have helped de-stigmatize mental health and promote well-being across the division.
2022
Jessa Barber (British Columbia Wildfire Service)
Jessa Barber’s Mental Health Promotion Award recognizes her transformative work in integrating mental health into the core of BC Wildfire Service’s safety culture. Drawing from her own experiences, she led the shift to Total Worker Health, expanding support beyond physical injuries to include mental well-being. She established a weekly guided meditation, developed mental health assessment surveys, and helped create external support services for staff and families. Jessa also coordinated Resilient Minds training, ensuring crews had critical mental health resources before BC’s worst wildfire season. Her dedication has made mental health support more accessible, setting a new standard for well-being in wildfire services.
Mental Health and Addictions Division (Ontario Ministry of Health)
The Mental Health and Addictions Division (MHAD) at the Ministry of Health is being recognized for its pivotal role in ensuring mental health and addictions services remained accessible during the pandemic. By rapidly expanding virtual service delivery, MHAD enabled over 95% of community-based services to continue, launched digital mental health tools, and provided critical support for frontline healthcare workers. Their efforts have transformed Ontario’s mental health system, creating lasting, innovative solutions that improve accessibility, reduce barriers, and enhance care for vulnerable populations across the province.