- The 2018 Bell Let's Talk Day awareness campaign starts today on
sports networks TSN and RDS featuring Canadians from around the
country sharing their own experiences with mental illness
- Show your support, help fight the stigma around mental illness
and drive Bell's donations to mental health – talk, text and join
in on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat on Bell Let's Talk
Day
- Learn 5 simple ways to help end stigma and download the Bell
Let's Talk toolkit at Bell.ca/LetsTalk
MONTRÉAL, Jan. 5, 2018 /CNW
Telbec/ - Bell Let's Talk Day 2018 is set for Wednesday, January 31 and everyone is invited to
join the Canadian conversation that's leading the world in
confronting the stigma around mental illness and sharing ideas to
move mental health forward.
The 2018 Bell Let's Talk Day awareness campaign spotlights
personal stories from Canadians of all ages from all walks of life
living with mental illness or providing support for those who do.
The TV campaign begins today on sports networks TSN and RDS and
continues with the support of multiple Canadian media and other
organizations, including television networks; social media and
other online platforms, radio and print; billboards and other
out-of-home advertising; and in movie theatres with Cineplex,
Cinémas Guzzo and the Hot Docs documentary film festival.
"A diverse and dedicated group of Canadians has come together to
share their personal stories of struggle, recovery and support with
everyone in the country. I thank them for offering their lived
experience, encouraging all of us to talk openly about mental
illness and how we can all support better mental health for
everyone," said Mary Deacon, Chair
of the Bell Let's Talk initiative. "I would also like to extend our
thanks and appreciation to the many media and other organizations
across the country supporting the awareness campaign as we look
forward to Bell Let's Talk Day on January
31."
"I am so happy to join with all the friends of Bell Let's Talk
to share our stories of living with mental illness and the stigma
that surrounds it, and work together to encourage everyone to talk
about mental health so no one misses out on the care they need,"
said Melynda Ehaloak, a mental
health advocate in Canada's North who appears in the campaign.
"Through my work with youth in Nunavut, I see every day just how important it
is to keep talking so that we can help young people living with
mental health issues."
"As someone who lives with mental illness, I've been fortunate
to have the support of Bell Let's Talk here in the workplace and
also as a volunteer advocate for mental health," said Leanne Simpson, a Bell employee and CAMH Engage
volunteer with the Centre for Mental Health and Addiction
Foundation. "It's really a privilege for me to be able to share the
story of my own experience as part of this great group of Canadians
that has come together for Bell Let's Talk Day."
"As Bell Let's Talk continues to grow each year, more inspiring
voices join the conversation, and I'm incredibly excited to welcome
all our new friends to the Bell Let's Talk campaign," said
Clara Hughes, Canada's 6-time
Olympic medalist and Bell Let's Talk Founding Spokesperson. "This
amazing group of Canadians has a passion for sharing their
experiences to encourage everyone to join in the conversation in
communities all around the country. So let's all keep talking and
make January 31 a new record for Bell
Let's Talk Day here in Canada and
everywhere around the world!"
Bell Let's Talk also welcomes back long-time spokespeople
Howie Mandel, Marie-Soleil Dion, Serena Ryder, Michael
Landsberg, Michel Mpambara,
Stefie Shock, Mary Walsh and Étienne Boulay, and Bell Let's
Talk ambassadors Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coach Mike Babcock, pro golfer Andrew Jensen, comedian Kevin Breel, retired CFL player Shea Emry, musician Robb
Nash, singer-songwriter Séan McCann
and Royal Canadian Navy veteran Bruno Guévremont. We're very
pleased to welcome 3 new Bell Let's Talk ambassadors to the team
this year – comedian and actress Jessica
Holmes, musician and author Florence K and actress Véronique
Bannon.
Join the conversation on Bell Let's Talk Day
On Bell
Let's Talk Day, millions of people in Canada and around the world send messages of
support and encouragement for those struggling with mental illness,
share their own stories and offer ideas about how we can improve
everyone's mental health.
Bell will donate 5 cents to
Canadian mental health programs for each of these interactions on
January 31, at no extra cost to
participants:
- Text and talk: Every text message, mobile and long distance
call made by Bell Canada, Bell
Aliant and, new this year, Bell MTS customers in Manitoba
- Twitter: Every tweet using #BellLetsTalk and Bell Let's Talk
Day video view
- Facebook: Every view of the Bell Let's Talk Day video at
Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk and use of the Bell Let's Talk frame
- Instagram: Every Bell Let's Talk Day video view
- Snapchat: Every use of the Bell Let's Talk geofilter and video
view
Bell Let's Talk Day 2017 set all new records with 131,705,010
messages, growing Bell's funding for Canadian mental health by
$6,585,250.50. #BellLetsTalk was
Canada's top hashtag in 2017, and is now the most used Twitter
hashtag ever in Canada.
With approximately 729,065,654 interactions by Canadians over
the last 7 Bell Let's Talk Days, Bell's total commitment to mental
health, including an original $50-million anchor donation in 2010, has risen to
$86,504,429.05. Bell expects its
donation commitment to reach at least $100
million in 2020.
Since launching in 2010, Bell Let's Talk has supported
organizations providing mental health care and services in every
region of Canada. Focused on 4 key action pillars – anti-stigma,
care and access, research and workplace leadership – Bell
Let's Talk programs include major donations to hospitals,
universities and other care and research organizations across
Canada and these dedicated programs: the Bell Let's Talk Community
Fund for local community mental health organizations; the Bell True
Patriot Love Fund for military members, veterans and their
families; a fund supporting mental health care in Canada's
Territories; and most recently a new fund dedicated to Indigenous
mental health in Manitoba,
launched alongside the creation of Bell MTS with a donation to
Winnipeg's Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata
Centre.
According to the latest Bell Let's Talk awareness survey
conducted by Nielsen in October, 4 in 5 Canadians are more aware of
mental health issues than 5 years ago, 70% think attitudes about
mental health have changed for the better, and over half believe
the stigma around mental illness has been reduced. The numbers are
even more impressive among young people aged 18 to 24: 87% are more
aware of mental health issues than 5 years ago, 76% think attitudes
are better, and 60% believe stigma has been reduced.
The 5 simple ways to help end the stigma around mental
illness
Together, we can all help end the stigma around
mental illness with the 5 simple ways developed by Dr. Heather Stuart, the Bell Mental Health and
Anti-Stigma Research Chair at Queen's University:
- 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
To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Media inquiries
Jacqueline Michelis
613-785-1427
jacqueline.michelis@bell.ca
@Bell_News
SOURCE Bell Canada