Vale Canada is Partnering with the Mood Disorders Society of Canada’s Elephant in the Room Anti-Stigma Campaign

Mood Disorders Society of Canada is very pleased to announce that Vale Canada Limited has partnered with us on our Elephant in the Room Anti-Stigma Campaign. Vale is a national sponsor of the Mood Disorders Society of Canada and continues to demonstrate a commitment to raising awareness and addressing the stigma associated with mental illness within our communities, and workplaces.

Vale’s Sudbury Operations will be inviting all employees who have received Mental Health First Aid training to support the launch of this campaign by bringing the Elephant in the Room – literally and figuratively, into the workplace in the form of a blue elephant. The elephants will serve as a small but powerful visual signal that employees who display them are trained and have created safe spaces for conversations with individuals experiencing a mental health concern. It will help to break down the invisible barrier that stigma presents to seeking care and support for mental health.

Claire Parkinson, Head of Health, Safety, Environment and Risk for the North Atlantic Operations reports that Vale’s Ontario Operations have trained over 500 employees in Mental Health First Aid and have launched a condensed mental health training program called MINES for Minds (Monitor, Intervene, Normalize, Encourage, Support). “This is a great way for employees to easily identify themselves as being trained in Mental Health First Aid, said Parkinson. “The Elephant in the Room Campaign pairs with our Mental Health First Aid and MINES for Minds programs to raise awareness, tackle stigma, and visibly identify the people and places where we can find support to talk about our mental health.”

With the launch of the Elephant in the Room Anti-Stigma Campaign at Vale’s Sudbury Operations on October 8, 2019, Vale is putting the elephant on the table – mental health matters – and together, we will take action against stigma and create safe spaces for our employees to talk about mental health.

“By taking proactive actions to address mental illness, organizations can make significant contributions to the wellness of Canadians. We are very proud to have Vale implement the MDSC Elephant in the Room anti-stigma campaign to address the prevalence of mental health issues in workplaces. 1 in 5 Canadians are impacted by a mental illness or serious problem each year, by encouraging workers to come forward for help when they need it, it will help them to receive the support they require to address these illnesses sooner,” states Dave Gallson, National Executive Director, MDSC.

About the Mood Disorders Society of Canada:

The Mood Disorders Society of Canada was launched in 2001 to provide people with mood disorders, their families and caregivers a strong, cohesive voice at the national level on issues relating to mental health and mental illness. With particular regard to depression, bipolar disorder and other associated mood disorders, the MDSC aims to improve access to treatment, inform research, shape program development and government policy to improve the quality of life for people affected by mood disorders.

About Vale

Vale is one of the world’s largest mining companies, present across five continents. Vale is also the world’s largest producer of nickel, with our Base Metals business headquartered in Toronto. Operating in Canada for more than 100 years, our Canadian operations produce nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum group metals, gold and silver. Vale’s operations in Sudbury are home to one of the largest integrated mining complexes in the world with five mines, a mill, a smelter and a nickel refinery.

For more information: