- Clara Hughes, Bell Let's Talk
national spokesperson, invites everyone to the 5th
annual Bell Let's Talk Day on January
28
- Michael Landsberg, Howie Mandel and Mary
Walsh join Clara, Michel
Mpambara and Stefie Shock on
the Bell Let's Talk team
- Tomorrow, talk, text, tweet and share to help drive Bell's
donations to Canadian mental health
- Learn 5 simple ways to help end the stigma around mental
illness
- Please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk to learn more about Bell Let's
Talk events and download the toolkit
MONTREAL, Jan. 27, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Tomorrow is the
5th annual Bell Let's Talk Day, with Clara Hughes leading the campaign inviting all
Canadians to talk, text and tweet about mental health and help
build a Canada free of the stigma of mental illness.
"I'm really looking forward to kicking off the national
conversation about mental health with Bell Let's Talk Day 2015!
Join us in the fight against the stigma that makes most who
struggle with mental illness reluctant to ask for help," said
Clara, Canada's 6-time Olympic medalist and national Bell Let's
Talk ambassador since the launch of the initiative in 2010. "I
welcome you to the national conversation tomorrow, and ask you to
talk, text, tweet and share on Facebook to help drive Bell's
donations to mental health. Let those who face mental illness know
you have their back - and let's set another record!"
Join the conversation and help grow Bell's donations
Tomorrow on Bell Let's Talk Day, 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.
"Each year, as the Bell Let's Talk conversation continues to
flourish, we further progress in reducing the stigma and growing
Bell's funding of the care and access, research and workplace
programs that are making a real and positive difference the lives
of so many Canadians," said George
Cope, President and CEO of Bell
Canada and BCE. "On Bell Let's Talk Day, please join in
growing awareness 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.5 simple ways to help end the stigma
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 say a lot
- Listen and ask - sometimes it's best to just listen
- Talk about it - start a dialogue, break the silence
"We worked with Dr. Heather
Stuart of Queen's University, the world's first Chair in
anti-stigma research, to help us develop 5 straightforward ways
everyone can help end the stigma and support people struggling with
mental illness," said Mary Deacon,
Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "Please use them to keep the conversation
about mental health going all year round, and help Canada become a
stigma-free nation."
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 have joined 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.
A new Bell Let's Talk ambassador, professional golfer
Andrew Jensen, joins comedian and
writer Kevin Breel, CFL veteran
Shea Emry and musician Robb Nash as they all encourage Canadians to
join them in the conversation about mental health.
Bell Let's Talk 2015 Highlights January 27 - 29
January 27
Montréal Canadiens Hockey Talks game
Michel Mpambara, Stefie Shock and Olympian Alex Genest will take
part in the Montréal Canadiens Hockey Talks game in support
of mental health at the Bell Centre in Montréal. Bell Let's Talk
will be featured throughout the game and select fans will receive
Bell Let's Talk bracelets and toques.
January 28
Bell Let's Talk and Cisco host nationwide student
TelePresence events
Clara Hughes and Michel Mpambara will lead live interactive
webcasts linking schools nationwide to encourage youth to talk
about mental health. In Toronto,
Clara will be joined by Michael
Landsberg and Kevin Breel.
Joining Michel in Montreal will be
Alex Genest, Josiane Babin of the Montreal Mental Illness
Foundation's Partners for Life program, and NRJ radio and
television host Anais Favron, who
will moderate the event.
Clara's Big Ride Documentary
CLARA'S BIG RIDE is a powerful documentary
chronicling 6-time Olympic medalist and Bell Let's Talk national
spokesperson Clara Hughes' epic
110-day bicycle journey to help build a Canada free of the stigma
of mental illness.
CLARA'S BIG RIDE will premiere in primetime on
Bell Let's Talk Day. It will be available all day on CraveTV and
CTV.ca, before airing at 7:00 pm
ET/PT in super-simulcast on CTV and CTV Two and
live-streamed on CTV GO.
Toronto Raptors game in support of Bell Let's Talk
Clara will attend the Toronto Raptors game. The first 10,000 fans
who arrive at the game will receive Bell Let's Talk toques. Bell
Let`s Talk will be featured throughout the game and fans will be
encouraged to continue the conversation about mental health by
calling, texting and tweeting.
Canadian Armed Forces mental health awareness event
Bell Let's Talk ambassador Andrew
Jensen will participate in a panel discussion about mental
health at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa from 11 - 11 30 am.
January 29
Bell Hockey Talks mental health in support of
D.I.F.D (Do It For Daron)
Clara will join the Ottawa
Senators and the Dallas Stars at centre ice for the ceremonial puck
drop during the youth mental health awareness night at the Canadian
Tire Centre in Ottawa (TSN,
7 pm ET). Fans will receive Bell
Let's Talk & D.I.F.D mittens when they arrive at the
game.
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, Université Laval
Foundation, CHU Sainte-Justine and Vancouver General Hospital.
Bell Let's Talk Community Fund.
The annual Bell Let's Talk Community Fund supports organizations in
Canada focused on improving access
to programs and services that support and help improve the mental
health and wellbeing of people living with mental health issues
from coast to coast to coast with grants in the range of
$5,000 to $50,000. Applications are
now being accepted for the 2015 Bell Let's Talk Community Fund. 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.
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