OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(MARKET WIRE)--Oct 7, 2008 -- Canada Post has issued a new stamp that encourages all Canadians to show their support for the one in five Canadians who suffer from mental illness. With the sale of each Mental Health fundraising stamp book, one dollar will be donated to the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health. The stamp's issue date coincides with the start of Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), which Canada Post sponsors.

"This stamp advocates change, much-needed change. Change starts by raising awareness and it does its most good when it impacts lives," said Moya Greene, President and CEO of Canada Post. "The funds raised by this stamp will help patients, their families and the people they turn to for support. It's a big job for a little stamp, but I'm confident that with the public's support and 62,000 Canada Post employees acting as ambassadors, we'll succeed with this ambitious mission," Greene added.

Canada Post became the first Canadian corporation to adopt mental health as its cause of choice in 2007. With the new Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health, the postal service has created an independent organization dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of mental illness and the millions of Canadians that it affects. Canada Post's goal is to raise $1 million for the foundation this year.

Guided by an independent board of trustees, the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health will support front-line organizations serving patients, consumers and caregivers. It will also focus on eliminating the stigma of mental illness, raising awareness of how it affects the lives of all Canadians and to ensuring mental health issues take their rightful place in our country's health and social policies. The Foundation will receive funds raised by Canada Post and its employees, as well as donations from the public, and expects to begin disbursing funds in mid-2009.

The Mental Health stamp was designed by Paul Haslip of HM&E Design Communication and uses a photograph by Nigel Dickson. Lowe-Martin has been contracted to produce an initial press run of 10 million stamps, in booklets of 10. With the additional surcharge, each booklet will sell for $6.20.

Canada Post has previously issued fundraising stamps from 1974 to 1976 for the Olympic Games in Montreal, and in 1996 to support literacy in Canada.

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE:

http://media3.marketwire.com/em/3681

     Contacts:
     Canada Post
     Media Relations
     613-734-8888
     http://www.canadapost.ca