About
Opening Minds is a not-for-profit charity created by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. It represents the largest systematic effort in Canadian history focused on eliminating stigma related to mental illness.
Opening Minds provides evidence-based training and tools that help people talk about mental health, change negative attitudes, and build more mentally healthy communities and workplaces.
More than 1 million people in Canada have been trained through an Opening Minds course — and that number continues to grow.”
Our Vision: A world where everyone supports and strives for good mental health, enabling people to live fulfilling lives.
Our Mission: To be the leader of evidence-based programs that promote mental wellness and resilience while eliminating stigma around the world.
Purpose: To empower individuals, communities and workplaces to build and sustain psychologically healthy and safe environments.
Values:
| Collaborative | We work cooperatively with others, sharing knowledge and resources, and contributing to a collective effort to achieve our common goals. | |
| Innovative | We challenge convention and develop new ideas, solutions, and approaches that lead to improvement, progress, and greater positive impact. | |
| Accountable | We are guided by integrity to do what’s right, own our actions, and deliver on our promises. | |
| Equity Driven | We understand that people have different starting points and we intentionally adjust systems, processes, and expectations to create fair and meaningful access for all. | |
| Courageous | We stand firm in our mission and approach, tackling hard truths and pushing for meaningful change, even when it’s uncomfortable. | |
| Inquisitive | We ask, we listen, and we learn—because meaningful solutions begin with deep curiosity and a genuine desire to understand what matters most to our clients, partners, and team. | |
| Wholehearted | We bring our full selves—drive, care, humour, and compassion—to everything we do. |
Opening Minds remains closely tied to the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). Our programs are evidence-based, founded on research, and deliver proven outcomes.
Each branch of the MHCC shares the same goal: to have the greatest positive impact on everyone’s mental health and well-being in Canada.
The Commission acknowledges that reconciliation with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, as outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, is central to achieving our goals.