MONTRÉAL, Oct. 7, 2014 /CNW
Telbec/ - Bell Let's Talk today announced contributions totalling
$1 million to support student mental
health programs at McGill University
and Université de Montréal.
The Bell Let's Talk funding of $500,000 for each university will help expand
existing mental health programs and develop additional services
that will be accessible to more students.
"These mental health support programs at Université de Montréal
and McGill will help students deal with
difficult situations in a way that does not interfere with their
studies," said Martine Turcotte,
Vice Chair, Québec, for Bell. "Most people affected by mental
health issues live in silence for fear of being judged or rejected
because of the stigma that still surrounds mental illness.
Improving access to mental health care and talking openly about the
need for these services are priorities for Bell Let's Talk."
At the Université de Montréal, the donation will be used to
implement a number of new initiatives to support students
experiencing stressful situations or suffering from anxiety or a
mood disorder. For example, new group sessions will focus on
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for greater emotional
stability. A proven and effective approach, it will be offered at
UdeM's Centre de santé et de consultation psychologique to all
campus students, including those at HEC Montréal and the École
Polytechnique.
"Student life is not easy. It is often accompanied by periods of
high stress and worry, at which time it is important to seek help,"
explains Dr. Guy Breton, Rector at
the Université de Montréal. "The support of Bell Let's Talk enables
us to provide more mental health services to our students."
At McGill, the donation will help
fund the McGill Wellness Portal, a comprehensive self-screening
tool focused on the most common mental health issues faced by
McGill's students: depression, anxiety,
eating disorders and alcohol misuse. Students will answer questions
that cover the nature and severity of their concerns, reflecting a
clinically rigorous evaluative approach developed from proven
mental health evaluation tools. Based on the individual student's
responses, the tool will provide a recommendation of further
intervention where warranted, including detailed information about
how to contact McGill Mental Health and Counseling caregivers.
"Thanks to Bell Let's Talk, our Mental Health Team has created
an innovative website featuring an online screening tool that
enables students, along with family members and friends, to gain a
better understanding of the state of their mental health, and help
determine whether they need to seek treatment," says Stuart Cobbett, Chairman of McGill's Board of Governors.
"Organizing prevention and mental health awareness activities
aimed at young people, who are our future, represents a truly
worthy cause," said Monique Vallée, Executive Committee member in
charge of social and community development and homelessness at the
Ville de Montréal. "These Bell's Let's Talk donations will support
additional activities of this type for the benefit of students
attending Montréal's two largest universities."
About Bell Let's Talk
The Bell Let's Talk initiative
promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and
anti-stigma campaigns – like Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk
and the annual Bell Let's Talk Day – and significant Bell funding
of community care and access, research, and workplace initiatives.
Since its launch in 2010, Bell Let's Talk has committed more than
$68.5 million to Canadian mental
health programs in every region of Canada. To learn more, please
visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications
company, providing consumers and business customers with leading
TV, Internet, wireless, 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.
About the Université de Montréal
Deeply rooted in
Montréal and dedicated to its international mission, the Université
de Montréal is one of the top universities in the French-speaking
world. Founded in 1878, the Université de Montréal today has 16
faculties, and together with its two affiliated schools, HEC
Montréal and the École Polytechnique, is the leading higher
education and research hub in Québec and one of the biggest in
North America. It brings together
2,500 professors and researchers, and welcomes over 65,000
students. For more information, please visit Umontreal.ca.
About McGill
University
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill is a leading Canadian post-secondary
institution. It has two campuses, 11 faculties, 11 professional
schools, 300 programs of study and some 39,000 students, including
more than 9,300 graduate students. McGill attracts students from over 150 countries
around the world, its 8,200 international students making up 21 per
cent of the student body. Almost half of McGill students claim a first language other than
English, including approximately 40 per cent whose first language
is French or who speak it fluently.
Media questions:
Marie-Eve
Francoeur
Bell Media Relations
514 391-5263
marie-eve.francoeur@bell.ca
@Bell_Nouvelles
Mathieu Filion
Media Relations, Université de Montréal
514 343-7704
m.filion.rivest@umontreal.ca
Cynthia Lee
Media Relations, McGill University
514 398-6754
SOURCE Bell Canada