- Developed with Dr. Heather
Stuart of Queen's University, the world's first chair in
anti-stigma research
- We can all help end the stigma and build support for those who
struggle with mental illness
- To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk
MONTREAL, Jan. 7, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The 2015 Bell Let's
Talk Day campaign invites all Canadians to learn about 5 ways we
can all help fight the stigma around mental illness. Developed in
partnership with Dr. Heather Stuart,
the Bell Canada Mental Health and Anti-stigma Research Chair at
Queen's University, the 5 ways combat the stigma that keeps too
many who struggle with mental illness from seeking the help they
need.
One in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness, yet 2 in 3
of those who struggle will not seek treatment options for fear of
judgment or rejection. They may not tell anyone at all that they
have a problem because of the stigma.
"If you were diagnosed with a serious physical illness, you'd
expect and almost certainly get emotional and social support from
people around you - not the silence, gossip, jokes or
discrimination often faced by people with a mental illness," said
Dr. Stuart, an internationally renowned professor of community
health and epidemiology. "That stigma is the reality for many
Canadians who struggle, but we can all help provide necessary
support to family, friends and colleagues by keeping a few
straightforward approaches in mind."
These 5 ways to communicate about mental illness show your
support and can help those who struggle overcome their concerns
about seeking help:
- 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
"We thank Dr. Stuart for her important work in anti-stigma
research and for her guidance in developing approaches we can all
employ to help break down the stigma," said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "It's an
effort supported by leaders like Clara
Hughes who speak openly about their own experiences, sharing
stories with others who've struggled and taking the message of hope
to everyone."
The Bell Mental Health and Anti-Stigma Research Chair
Established in 2012 with a $1 million
grant from Bell Let's Talk, the Bell Mental Health and Anti-Stigma
Research Chair at Queen's University is the first research chair in
the world dedicated to the fight against the stigma around mental
illness.
Current chair holder Dr. Stuart works to increase awareness and
understanding of stigma, develops and disseminates best practices
in stigma reduction, and engages in applied research collaborations
with world leaders in mental health.
Researchers at Queen's are at the forefront of developing best
practices in the field of anti-stigma, including the unique
approaches undertaken through the Opening Minds program of the
Mental Health Commission of Canada and a leadership role in the
World Psychiatric Association's Global Anti-Stigma Program.
Everyone can join the conversation on Bell Let's Talk
Day
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.
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 about the Bell Let's Talk campaign, and to
download the Bell Let's Talk toolkit to help get the conversation
started, 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
Image with caption: "Dr. Heather
Stuart - Bell Canada Mental Health and Anti-Stigma Research
Chair and Professor of community health and epidemiology at Queen's
University. (CNW Group/Bell
Canada)". Image available at:
http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150107_C9355_PHOTO_EN_43329.jpg
Image with caption: "Dr. Richard
Reznick, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Daniel Woolf, Principal and Vice-Chancellor,
Mary Deacon, Chair Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative, Dr.
Heather Stuart, inaugural holder of
The Bell Mental Health and Anti-Stigma Research Chair and,
Thomas O'Neill, Chair of the Board,
BCE (CNW Group/Bell Canada)". Image
available at:
http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150107_C9355_PHOTO_EN_43331.jpg