Partnership enables new Brain
Canada initiative addressing research and care gaps
highlighted by the COVID-19 crisis
MONTRÉAL, Jan. 26, 2021 /CNW
Telbec/ - Brain Canada and Bell
Let's Talk today announced the new Bell Let's Talk-Brain Canada
Mental Health Research Program to accelerate Canadian brain
research while helping to address the impacts of COVID-19 on mental
health care. Funding for the program is made up of a $2 million gift from Bell Let's Talk matched by
the federal government through the Canada Brain Research Fund
(CBRF).
"As brain health becomes an increasingly prominent societal
issue, there is a growing need for scientific data to support new
treatments," said Dr. Mona Nemer,
Canada's Chief Science Advisor. "This new research program is
taking great steps to address the complexity of these challenges by
promoting collaborative and cross-disciplinary research."
"We're proud to partner with the federal government and
Brain Canada to invest in timely
research that will make a major contribution to effective,
sustainable and accessible mental health care now and over the long
term," said Mary Deacon, Chair of
Bell Let's Talk. "The Bell Let's Talk-Brain Canada Mental Health
Research Program supports novel and transformative research that
aims to accelerate the integration of emerging scientific knowledge
into developing and improving mental health care."
The COVID crisis has highlighted the need for enhanced mental
health research and care initiatives: more than 60% of Canadians
who struggle with a mental illness, and 40% of all Canadians, say
their health has declined since the onset of COVID-19.
"The time to act is now," said Brain Canada CEO and President
Dr. Viviane Poupon. "This research
program comes at an important juncture. The next wave of the
pandemic will be the mental health crisis. We must ensure our
health care system is equipped to meet the rising demand for mental
health resources, services and treatment options. To make advances
in this space, we need to utilize new and emerging knowledge and
find ways to implement it to achieve meaningful outcomes for
Canadians."
"We are all living through a stressful period, and we know that
Canadians are currently experiencing a deterioration in their
mental health," said Dr. Gustavo
Turecki, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at
McGill University, and Co-Director of
the Douglas – Bell Canada Brain Bank
based at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute. "The new
research funding opportunity from Bell Let's Talk and Brain Canada comes at a critical time. It will
inspire scientific breakthroughs – and ultimately it will fund
research that will contribute to improving the mental health of
Canadians."
Bell Let's Talk Day is January
28
Thursday is Bell Let's Talk Day, when 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 Bell Let's Talk mental
health initiative 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 services throughout Canada, including hospitals,
universities and other care and research organizations. To learn
more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
About Brain Canada
Brain Canada is a national
non-profit organization that enables and supports excellent,
innovative, paradigm-changing brain research in Canada. It plays a unique and invaluable role
as the national convener of the brain research community.
Brain Canada understands that better
insight into how the brain works contributes to the prevention,
diagnosis, treatment and cure of disorders of the brain, thereby
improving the health outcomes and quality of life of all Canadians.
To learn more, please visit braincanada.ca.
Media inquiries:
Jacqueline Michelis
Bell
jacqueline.michelis@bell.ca
613-785-1427
@Bell_LetsTalk
@Bell_News
Kate Shingler
Brain Canada
kate.shingler@braincanada.ca
514-550-8308
SOURCE Bell Canada