- $1 million annual fund helps
community mental health organizations across Canada
- More than 200 grants made to groups in every region of the
country since 2011
- Apply on line at Bell.ca/LetsTalk
MONTREAL, Jan. 22, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today kicked
off the $1-million annual Bell Let's
Talk Community Fund for 2015. Applications are now being accepted
for grants from $5,000 up to
$50,000 for community-based mental
health initiatives from coast to coast to coast.
"By directly supporting mental health organizations at the
grassroots level, we know the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund is
making a real and positive difference in the wellbeing of people
living with mental health issues all around Canada," said
Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's
Talk. "We're looking forward to helping many more local mental
health partners in 2015."
The Bell Let's Talk Community Fund has already supported more
than 200 community groups in every region of Canada with
$4 million in grants since 2011.
"The Bell Let's Talk Community Fund continues to be an important
resource for locally-based mental health initiatives," said the
Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health. "Good mental health
begins with a supportive community. Advancing mental health in
Canada requires all of us -
government at all levels, professionals, communities, workplaces
and individuals - to work together. I applaud the Bell Let's Talk
initiative for investing in mental health in communities across
Canada."
"Thank you to the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund for supporting
the HOpe Centre Coffee Shop, which employs people living with a
mental health condition," said Sandra
Severs, Executive Director of CMHA North and West Vancouver. "This social enterprise
project will help fight stigma by hiring, training and providing
work experience for people who might otherwise have difficulty
finding appropriate, supportive work. Everyone has skills to
contribute and work is an important part of being a healthy member
of society. We hope the coffee shop, located in the HOpe Centre for
Psychiatry and Education at Lions Gate Hospital, will be a model
for the community showing that it is possible to employ people
recovering from mental illness and run a successful business."
Applications to the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund are open to
registered not-for-profit organizations and registered charities to
fund localized mental health programs. Mental health experts from
across Canada participate in the selection process. The 2015
application period is open until March
31 and all 2015 Fund grants will be disbursed before
December 31, 2015.
To apply for 2015 funding, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
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.
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, out of home, 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