$1 million in grants to increase
access to culturally informed mental health services in diverse
communities
MONTRÉAL, Jan. 20, 2021 /CNW
Telbec/ - Bell Let's Talk today announced the next round of
recipients of the new Bell Let's Talk Diversity Fund, with grants
totalling $1 million going to 8
organizations working to improve access to mental health care for
members of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC)
communities in Canada with
culturally informed and evidence-based mental health and wellness
programs.
"With mental health support needed now more than ever due to the
twin crises of COVID-19 and systemic racism, Bell Let's Talk is
pleased to empower the work of these outstanding organizations
through our Diversity Fund," said Mary
Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "Each of them is taking
timely, innovative and culturally informed action to make a
positive difference for the mental health of Canada's ethnically
diverse communities."
Established in July 2020, the Bell
Let's Talk Diversity Fund provides grants of up to
$250,000 for organizations working to
address the impact of systemic racism on the mental health of BIPOC
communities. The fund launched with inaugural donations to Black
Youth Helpline and the National Association of Friendship
Centres and an invitation to groups across the country to
submit expressions of interest to receive funding.
Working with mental health experts, persons with lived
experience and community leaders from within BIPOC communities in
every region, Bell Let's Talk has selected the following
organizations to receive Diversity Fund grants:
- African Community Wellness Initiative, Ontario
"Recently there has been growing awareness of social disparities
and gaps in services that affect African, Caribbean and Black-Identifying (ACBI)
communities in Canada. Our
Afrocentric Counselling Services project will help ACBI women and
youth of Ontario communities
benefit from psycho-educational and therapeutic group counselling
services led by cultural Mental Wellness Practitioners," said
Fanis Juma, Founder and Lead
Practitioner. "We are grateful to the Bell Let's Talk Diversity
Fund for allowing us the opportunity to serve our community in such
a meaningful and impactful way."
- Centre des jeunes l'Escale de Montréal-Nord, Québec
"Our grant will help provide 75 young people in the Montréal-Nord
community with more than 50 hours each of activities to develop
resilience, leadership and tools to help them emotionally and also
increase their chance of success," said Sophie Laquerre-Duchesne, Director. "Bell Let's
Talk is helping empower young people aged 15 to 25 by enabling us
to offer psychosocial services and support."
- Hillside Elementary School at Kettle and Stony Point First
Nation, Ontario
"Our project, Land as Our First Teacher, will help support student
success and mental health at Hillside Elementary. Through this
project our elementary program will be enhanced to be more
reflective of students and their identity, utilizing community
knowledge keepers and school staff," said Steve Styers, Principal and Director of
Education. "We are grateful to the Bell Let's Talk Diversity Fund
for this opportunity and support. Chi-Miigwetch! Miigwetch to Aaki
Kwe (Mother Earth) for the healing and support of our students'
well-being."
- Mosaic Newcomer Family Resource Network, Manitoba
"With COVID-19 making mental health supports needed now more than
ever, Thriving in a New Home is a timely and innovative mental
health promotion project for isolated newcomer refugee parents and
their children," said Shereen
Denetto, Director of Family Programs. "Our grant from the
Bell Let's Talk Diversity Fund is enabling us to work more closely
with trauma-affected families to help them build resilience, heal
and thrive even in these challenging times."
- North End Community Health Association, Nova Scotia
"We have seen our community struggle since the beginning of the
pandemic," said Marie-France
Leblanc, Executive Director. "This support from the Bell
Let's Talk Diversity Fund could not come at a more pivotal time as
it will help provide innovative, respectful and compassionate
health and wellness services and supports for African Nova Scotians
who are struggling in the middle of this unparalleled health
crisis."
- Pour 3 Points, Québec
"A coach can make all the difference in the future of a young
person. With the support from the Bell Let's Talk Diversity Fund,
Pour 3 Points can develop its expertise and train coaches to look
out for the mental health of youth, particularly now during the
pandemic when young people are facing unprecedented challenges,"
said Fabrice Vil, Founder. "We thank
Bell for supporting this initiative to offer hope for youth and
their coaches, helping youth develop skills to succeed at school
and in their lives."
- Yorktown Family Services, Ontario
"The Bell Let's Talk Diversity Fund grant creates the opportunity
to provide barrier free access to members of Black identifying
communities through the Black Youth Mental Health and Wellness
Program," said Suzette
Arruda-Santos, Executive Director. "Thanks to Bell's support
we can deliver culturally accessible programs dedicated to
children, youth and young adults in Black Communities."
- Yukon University, Yukon
"We're grateful to the Bell Let's Talk Diversity Fund for
supporting the development and implementation of our new Mental
Health and Wellness Strategy, including enhancements to our
wellness facilities and programs," said Dr. Maggie Matear, interim President and Vice
Chancellor. "This project really puts the focus on student
wellness. We hope that our renewed focus on understanding the
diverse experiences of our multi-cultural community will allow more
employees to support students and one another."
A further group of grant recipients from the first round of
expressions of interest to the Bell Let's Talk Diversity Fund will
be announced this spring.
Webinars about Diversity and Mental Health
Bell Let's
Talk is partnering with Queen's University, McGill University and Montréal's Jewish General
Hospital to host webinars on mental health in diverse communities
and engage in discussion about resiliency and mental
well-being.
Moderated by Dr. Ghayda Hassan,
the French-language webinar will be held Thursday, January 21 at 12pm ET. To register for the webinar, please
click here.
Moderated by Dr. Jane Philpott,
the English-language webinar takes place Friday, January 22, 12pm
ET. To register for this event, please click here.
Bell Let's Talk Day is January
28
On Bell Let's Talk Day January 28, Canadians everywhere will join in the
global mental health conversation. You can use a wide range of
communications platforms to join in – and directly drive Bell's
donations to Canadian mental health programs simply by
participating.
On Bell Let's Talk Day, Bell donates 5
cents to Canadian mental health programs for every
applicable text, local or long distance call, tweet or TikTok video
using #BellLetsTalk, every Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest,
Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube view of the Bell Let's Talk
Day video, and every use of the Bell Let's Talk Facebook frame or
Snapchat filter. All at no cost to participants beyond what they
would normally pay their service provider for online or phone
access.
About Bell Let's Talk
The largest-ever corporate
commitment to mental health in Canada, Bell Let's Talk is focused on 4 key
action pillars: Anti-stigma, Care and Access, Research and
Workplace Leadership. Since its launch in September 2010, Bell Let's Talk has partnered
with more than 1,100 organizations providing mental health supports
and services throughout Canada, including hospitals, universities,
local community service providers and other care and research
organizations. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Media inquiries:
Jacqueline Michelis
613-785-1427
jacqueline.michelis@bell.ca
@Bell_LetsTalk
@Bell_News
SOURCE Bell Canada