QUÉBEC, Jan. 21, 2014
/CNW Telbec/ - Bell and the Université Laval Foundation today
announced a $225,000 contribution
from Bell Let's Talk to support a new program that will help
students who experience mental health issues.
Called Mental Health in a University Environment:
Understanding and Taking Action, the initiative supports the
development of mental health training for frontline members of the
university community. The training will help guide staff members in
their efforts to assist students in distress and provide them with
the help they need. This new mental health program has been
designed and is being implemented by the Student Services Office
and the Vice-Rector, Human Resources.
"Bell is very pleased to support Université Laval's new mental
health program, which will help students cope without jeopardizing
their studies," said Martine
Turcotte, Vice Chair, Québec for Bell. "Most people impacted
by mental illness suffer in silence for fear of being judged or
rejected because of the continuing stigma. Improving access to
mental health care and talking openly about the need for these
services are priorities for Bell Let's Talk."
Bell's contribution to the program will also enable the Student
Assistance Centre to offer specialized support for students who may
have considerable difficulty in controlling their emotions,
thoughts and behaviours when under stress.
"These programs will help us to develop a well-informed
university community that is able to respond effectively and
consistently to students in distress," explains Henri Hamel, Director of the Université Laval
Student Assistance Centre.
"Hypersensitivity to difficult life events can make normal daily
existence painful, even unbearable, should crisis situations
arise," added Martine Coulombe,
psychologist at the Université Laval
Student Assistance Centre, responsible for the development
of the student mental health program. "This initiative will provide
the tools university staff members need to support students dealing
with mental health challenges."
"Université Laval is a place for research, progress and
knowledge sharing. The future of our society is being shaped
here. But, essentially, nothing is possible if we overlook the
human dimension of our students—the leaders of tomorrow," said
Denis Brière, Rector of Université Laval. "That's why it is vital
for us to provide them with a quality teaching and research
environment and to support them in every possible way in their
endeavour to achieve academic success."
About Bell Let's Talk
The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative is built around 4
action pillars - anti-stigma, care and access, research, and
workplace best practices. Bell Let's Talk partners with a growing
number of mental health leaders across Canada including Institut universitaire en
santé mentale de Montréal, Hôpital Charles-LeMoyne, Montreal Jewish Hospital, the Douglas
Mental Health University Institute, La Fondation du Centre
hospitalier universitaire de Québec, and Concordia University.
Bell Let's Talk Day is January
28
The fourth annual Bell Let's Talk Day, set for January 28, 2014, invites Canadians to join the
conversation and help end the stigma around mental illness. On Bell
Let's Talk Day, Bell donates 5 cents
for every text sent, mobile call, and long distance call made by
Bell and Bell Aliant customers, every tweet using #BellLetsTalk,
and every Facebook share of the Bell Let's Talk Day image. Bell's
donations are made at no extra charge to Bell Let's Talk Day
participants, though normal long distance or text charges, if any,
apply.
To date, Bell has already committed $62,043,289.30 to Canadian mental health based on
its original $50 million commitment
and participation in Bell Let's Talk Day since 2011.
To learn more please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk
About the Université Laval Student Assistance Centre
The Université Laval Student Assistance Centre is a sub-unit of the
Student Services Office. In joint collaboration with other units of
the university, its mandate is to provide direct and indirect
assistance for the normal development of students who may
experience crisis episodes during the course of their university
studies. For more information, please consult
https://www.aide.ulaval.ca (available in French only).
About the Université Laval Foundation
Created in 1966, the Université Laval Foundation has a mandate to
organize and carry out fundraising campaigns, and to administer
donations. It welcomes the generosity of graduates, friends,
organizations and foundations that support teaching and research
activities at Université Laval. Over the years, the donations
received have helped create 600 or so funds in a broad and diverse
group of fields. Among the French university foundations, the
Université Laval Foundation ranks first in terms of capitalized
funds. For more information, please consult
http://www.ful.ulaval.ca (available in French only).
About Bell
Headquartered in Montréal since 1880, Bell is Canada's largest communications company,
providing consumers and business customers with leading TV,
wireless, Internet, media, home phone and business communications
solutions. Bell Media is Canada's
premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio
and digital media. Bell is wholly owned by Montréal's BCE Inc.
(TSX, NYSE: BCE). For more information, please visit Bell.ca.
SOURCE La Fondation de l'Université Laval