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Introduction

A New Mental Health Alliance

The registered charity, Museum of Mental Health Services (Toronto) Inc, formerly known as Friends of the CAMH Archives (FoCA), have expanded their scope by formally joining forces with Madness Canada/ Folie Canada to become the Museum of Mental Health (MOMH). This connection allows both organizations to extend their shared mandates of preservation, education, and research in the field of Canadian mental health history and its legacies.

Following a 2023 review, FoCA sought a like-minded group with which to collaborate and found that Madness Canada aligned well with its aims and objectives. Combined, we are the Museum of Mental Health, an alliance that delivers mental health educational programming and dynamic, relevant research exhibits and resources. This expanded organizational structure challenges our re-visioned organization to engage in the critical strategic thinking needed to create a nationally recognized source of reliable information, experiential educational modules, and insights from a history that is both troubling and inspirational. We are moving forward with a re-visioned mandate and a committed board of directors.

From 1988, FoCA has been a successful charity supporting archival and historical activities at the former Queen Street Mental Health Centre, now CAMH. Its biannual newsletter (click on NEWSLETTER link at top right of page) showcase the work of emerging and established scholars in the field of mental health history in Toronto and further afield. MOMH will continue to offer the annual research scholarships started by FoCA, providing pivotal funding for emerging scholars undertaking projects in the history of mental health. 

Madness Canada began in 2004 – a unique bilingual educational, research and exhibit project with a reputation for scholarly funding and community engagement. Working with FoCA significantly broadens Madness Canada’s reach by extending services into community heritage conservation, too often ignored in mental health. Madness Canada offers strong technical and communication capacities.

To donate to MOMH or to join our organization please visit our Canada Helps site.

MOMH is a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency, Business No: 892484965RR0001

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Uncategorized

Hewton & Griffin Awards 2026

Madness Canada Presents:

The Hewton and Griffin Grants for Supporting Archival Research in 2026

Madness Canada, dedicated to the history of Canadian psychiatry, mental health and addiction, have established two endowment funds (formerly awarded by the Friends of the CAMH Archives). These endowments annually provide funding in memory of their late colleagues, Ms. E.M. (Lil) Hewton and Dr. John D.M. Griffin, OC.

These funding awards will provide financial assistance to students and/or people with lived experience who propose to undertake archival research that addresses some aspect of the Canadian history of psychiatry, madness, mental health services, addiction, mad activism, advocacy, or culture. Preference will be given to applications that demonstrate some aspect of contemporary relevance, community connections, understudied populations, and/or innovations in archival research. The Madness Canada Board may at its discretion approve awards to a maximum of $5,000 each.

In the application form (see link below) candidates are invited to:

·       Submit a project proposal, not exceeding 500 words 

·       A budget (see eligible items listed on the form)

·       Your résumé

Deadline: January 23, 2026

Submit to: https://forms.gle/A1AMJDEmxw83nrwdA 

For examples of the archival research projects previously awarded (formerly “Bursaries”), please refer to the SPRING editions of Friends of the CAMH Archives newsletters at: https://museumofmentalhealth.ca/newsletters/. 

Terms and Conditions

  • Interim Report: Recipients must submit an interim report within one year of receiving the award. This report should detail the progress of the research project.
  • Final Report: Recipients must submit a final report of 1500-2000 words within two years of receiving the award. This report should describe the completed work and its findings.
  • Publicity and Dissemination: Madness Canada intends to publicize the funded research projects on its website and social media channels. By accepting the award, the recipient agrees that the organization may use the submitted materials (including excerpts from the submission abstract, interim and final reports) for public promotion.
    • Recipients will be asked to provide high-quality visuals (e.g., a photo of themselves and/or images relevant to their research) upon acceptance of the award to facilitate this promotion.
  • Submission: All interim and final reports should be submitted via email to the Awards Committee through: info@MuseumofMentalHealth.ca.
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Awards

Hewton and Griffin Awards

The Hewton and Griffin Funding Award Grants for Supporting Archival Research in 2025.

The Museum of Mental Health (formerly known as the Friends of the CAMH Archives), dedicated to the history of Canadian psychiatry, mental health and addiction, have established two endowment funds. These endowments annually provide funding in memory of their late colleagues, Ms. E.M. (Lil) Hewton and Dr. John D.M. Griffin, OC.

These funding awards will provide financial assistance to students, and others not necessarily associated with an academic institution, who propose to undertake archival research on an aspect of the history of mental health, including addiction, in Canada. The MoMH Board may at its discretion approve awards to a maximum of $5,000 each.

There is no application form. Candidates are invited to submit a letter of intent, not exceeding 500 words, together with a budget and résumé, not later than December 13, 2024. These research awards are conditional on the recipients agreeing to submit progress reports within one year, and a final report including a financial synopsis within two years of receiving their financial allocation. For examples of the archival research projects previously awarded (formerly “Bursaries”), please refer to that feature as included in the SPRING editions of our past years’ Newsletters, at: https://museumofmentalhealth.ca/newsletters/. 

To apply for a 2025 award, please submit an application by the December 13, 2024 deadline via e-mail, to: info@museumofmentalhealth.ca.

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Awards

Hewton and Griffin Awards 2024

Our 2024 research funding recipients:

Alex Myrick, “Adolf Meyer’s Ideas in Canadian Psychiatry, 19th and 20th Centuries.”

Danielle Landry, “Psychiatric Consumer/survivor Businesses in Ontario, 1985-2005.”

Suki Lee, “Analysis of Geographical Data Related to Confinement in the Asylum for the Insane, Toronto.”