- Bell Let's Talk national spokesperson Clara Hughes again invites you to the
conversation about mental health on the fifth annual Bell Let's
Talk Day
- Michael Landsberg, Howie Mandel and Mary
Walsh join Clara, Michel
Mpambara and Stefie Shock on
the Bell Let's Talk team
- Learn 5 simple ways to help end the stigma around mental
illness
- On January 28, talk, text, tweet
and share to help grow Bell's funding for Canadian mental
health
- Please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk to learn more and download the
toolkit
MONTREAL, Jan. 5, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today launched
the 2015 Bell Let's Talk campaign in support of Canadian mental
health, leading up to the fifth annual Bell Let's Talk Day on
January 28. National spokesperson
Clara Hughes is again leading the
campaign to invite all Canadians to talk, text and tweet about
mental health and help build a Canada free of the stigma of mental
illness.
"We had a great year talking about mental health in 2014, with a
record Bell Let's Talk Day driving new mental health funding and
then the incredible Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk that shared the
anti-stigma message in every corner of the country. I look forward
to taking the conversation even further in 2015 on our journey to a
stigma-free Canada," said Clara, Canada's six-time Olympic medalist
and national Bell Let's Talk ambassador since the initiative
launched in 2010. "As we work to end the stigma, Bell Let's Talk is
also funding new mental health care, research and workplace
initiatives. On January 28, you can
join the conversation and drive Bell's donations to mental health
too by talking, texting, tweeting and sharing on Facebook."
5 simple ways to help end the stigma
While 1 in 5 Canadians will experience mental illness at some point
in their lives, the lingering stigma means 2 in 3 will struggle in
silence fearing judgment and rejection. This year's Bell Let's
Talk's campaign focuses on 5 simple ways we can all help end the
stigma around mental illness:
- Language matters - pay attention to the words you use about
mental illness
- Educate yourself - learn, know and talk more, understand the
signs
- Be kind - small acts of kindness speak a lot
- Listen and ask - sometimes it's best to just listen
- Talk about it - start a dialogue, break the silence
"Ending the stigma of mental illness depends on building greater
awareness, acceptance and action. These are 5 simple ways all
Canadians can help build a culture in which people struggling with
mental illness feel supported and not afraid," said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "We are
so grateful to all our spokespeople, ambassadors and partners for
leading the conversation about how we can all contribute to
creating a nation free of the stigma around mental illness."
To learn more about the campaign, and to download the Bell Let's
Talk toolkit to help get the conversation started, please visit
Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
The 2015 Bell Let's Talk team
This year, TSN host Michael
Landsberg, comedian Howie
Mandel and entertainer Mary
Walsh join Clara and Québec spokespeople Stefie Shock and Michel
Mpambara in the Bell Let's Talk campaign.
The long-time host of TSN's Off The Record, Michael Landsberg is a renowned advocate for
mental health. Howie Mandel is the
internationally known comedian, actor and TV host. Mary Walsh is a social activist, comedian and
actor whose work includes the iconic news satire show This Hour Has
22 Minutes.
In addition, a new ambassador, professional golfer Andrew Jensen, will join comedian and writer
Kevin Breel, CFL veteran
Shea Emry and musician Robb Nash in spreading the conversation about
mental health. Together, the Bell Let's Talk team will be talking
about their own mental health experiences in media and at events as
they encourage Canadians to join the conversation.
Join the conversation on Bell Let's Talk Day and help
donations grow
On January 28, for every text
message, wireless and long distance call made by Bell Canada and Bell Aliant customers, every
tweet using #BellLetsTalk, and every Facebook share of that day's
Bell Let's Talk Day image at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk, Bell will
donate 5 cents more to Canadian
mental health programs.
"The Bell Let's Talk conversation continues to grow each year,
and we continue to make progress toward ending the stigma by
talking about how mental illness affects all of us," said
George Cope, President and CEO of
Bell Canada and BCE. "On Bell Let's
Talk Day, every one of us has the opportunity to support those who
struggle and help drive funding and action in Canadian mental
health."
In 2014, Canadians answered the call with a total of 109,451,718
messages including texts, wireless and long distance calls, tweets
and Facebook shares, meaning Bell added another $5,472,585,90 to its Bell Let's Talk funding
commitment. Based on its original $50
million donation and the results of the last 4 Bell Let's
Talk Days, Bell has now committed more than $67.5 million to Canadian mental health.
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.
The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative
Bell Let's Talk promotes mental health based on 4 action pillars -
anti-stigma, care and access, research, and workplace best
practices. The initiative supports mental health leaders across the
country including the Royal Ottawa Hospital, Institut universitaire
en santé mentale de Montréal, Hôpital Charles-LeMoyne, Montreal Jewish Hospital, the Centre
for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the University of British Columbia, the Douglas Mental
Health University Institute, Queen's University, La Fondation du
Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec, Concordia University, Brain
Canada, Kids Help Phone, Sunnybrook Hospital and Université Laval
Foundation.
The annual Bell Let's Talk Community Fund supports front-line
mental health organizations in every region of the country. The
Fund has provided grants of $5,000 to
$50,000 to hundreds of community organizations focused on
improving access to programs and services that support people
living with mental health issues.
To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing
consumers and business customers with wireless, TV, Internet, home
phone and business communications services. 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 Bell Canada