Our First Project: Three Years of Mental Health Advocacy

When the 2020 pandemic brought widespread isolation, loneliness, stress, and anxiety, we launched our first major initiative: a three-year mental health awareness project. Our mission was to:

• Raise awareness about mental health

• Reduce stigma and encourage open dialogue

• Empower individuals across Ontario to seek and offer help

 

Community Partnerships & Collaboration

We partnered with:

• Said Ham Food Bank – addressing food insecurity

• Fred Victor Center (Women’s Shelter) – supporting women’s safety and empowerment

• Fight 4 Freedom – tackling human trafficking and related mental health impacts

Together, we created campaigns connecting homelessness, human trafficking, and hunger to mental health, while fostering donations and community engagement.

 

Digital Safety & Anti-Hate Speech Campaign

As the pandemic increased online activity, we concluded the initiative with a digital campaign to combat online hate speech. Launched on June 20, 2022, it included:

• Petition (achieving 75% of targeted signatories)

• Walkathon and online seminar

• Podcast series addressing the mental health impact of hate speech

• Guidance for individuals on building resilience, protecting privacy, and reporting harmful content

 

Media Coverage

As part of our mental health awareness initiative, we were featured on OMNI Television, highlighting our walkathon event. This media coverage helped amplify our message, reaching broader audiences and further encouraging conversations about mental health, stigma reduction, and community support.

 

Key Insights

• While it was once true that Facebook and Instagram had higher visible levels of hate speech, this shifted significantly starting in 2020. Meta expanded its AI and moderation systems during the pandemic, and by Q3 2020 both platforms reached around 95% proactive detection of hate speech.

  • This means that today, the vast majority of hate content is removed before users ever see it - a sharp improvement from earlier years (when only about 24% was caught proactively in 2018). Reports from 2022–2023 show this high detection rate has remained stable (94–96%).

• Online hate can lead to anxiety, low self-esteem, and in severe cases, suicidal ideation, while also deepening societal divides

• Social media, when used mindfully, can influence policy and create positive change

 

Legislative Impact

On February 26, 2024, the Online Harms Act was introduced in Canada to establish stronger protections against harmful online content, including hate speech. While our campaign was one of many efforts contributing to the broader conversation and public pressure, it helped raise awareness, foster dialogue, and emphasize the link between online hate speech and mental health. This law would hold platforms accountable for harmful content and includes:

• A Digital Safety Commission & Ombudsperson

• Clear hate crime definitions in the Criminal Code

• Protections for children and penalties for hate-related offenses​

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The Lasting Impact

Our Mental Health Awareness initiative:​

• Strengthened partnerships with community organizations

• Elevated mental health conversations across Ontario

• Demonstrated the power of digital advocacy in shaping public policy

 

Key Metrics & Achievements

• Digital Safety Petition success: 75% of targeted signatures (15 of 20)

• Duration: 3-year initiative (2020–2023)

• Community Partnerships: 3 organizations actively engaged

• Digital Campaign Reach: Reached online communities across multiple platforms, sparking conversations and awareness around mental health and online hate speech

• Legislative Impact: Contributed to the broader awareness and public dialogue that influenced the environment leading to the Online Harms Act (2024)

• Media Coverage: Featured on OMNI TV for our mental health awareness walkathon

 

Get Involved

1. Watch the campaign video - Learn about our awareness efforts and community engagement

2. Sign up for updates - Join our community and stay informed about future initiatives that promote mental health, equity, and safe digital spaces

3. Explore the 2022 petition - See how collective action can drive change

4. Learn more about the legislative impact 

5. BBC News Report on Online Safety Rules