- $750,000 in grants to 6 more
organizations to expand access to mental health services in
ethno-cultural communities
- Diversity Fund has now disbursed $2.25
million in grants since launching in July 2020
MONTRÉAL, May 6, 2021 /CNW Telbec/
- Bell Let's Talk today announced $750,000 in new grants from the Bell Let's Talk
Diversity Fund to 6 more organizations working to improve access to
mental health care for members of Black, Indigenous and People of
Colour (BIPOC) communities in Canada.
"Since we launched the Bell Let's Talk Diversity Fund, we have
been impressed by the work being done by organizations across the
country to bring culturally informed mental health supports to
Canada's diverse communities," said Mary
Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "We're pleased to expand
our support with grants to these outstanding organizations as they
work to improve access to mental health care in the face of growing
demand due to the combined impacts of racial injustice and
COVID-19."
The Bell Let's Talk Diversity Fund provides grants for
organizations working to address the impact of systemic racism on
the mental health of BIPOC communities. The fund launched in 2020
with inaugural donations to Black Youth Helpline and the
National Association of Friendship Centres. Groups across the
country were then invited to submit expressions of interest as part
of the first cycle to receive funding, and 8 recipients were
announced earlier this year.
Bell Let's Talk worked with mental health experts, persons with
lived experience and community leaders from BIPOC communities to
select a further 6 organizations to receive grants from the first
cycle:
- Delta Family Resource Centre, Ontario
"This funding is the realization of a three-year dream and also
part of the third year of our strategic plan which identifies the
creation of a wellness program for residents of Northwest Toronto," said Kemi Jacobs, Executive Director. "The timing of
this funding could not be better as it allows us to hire an
additional counsellor to provide culturally appropriate counselling
support for diverse Black families."
- MOSAIC, British Columbia
"We are so grateful to Bell Let's Talk for its generous gift to
support and improve mental health and overall well-being of
newcomers, immigrants and refugees of all ages," said Olga
Stachova, CEO. "Bell's generosity helps MOSAIC support newcomers,
especially with the surge in demand for virtual services for
counseling and group workshops."
- Nurrait | Jeunes Karibus, Québec
"The Nurrait | Jeunes Karibus team is honored to receive support
from Bell for our "Cabin Project" which will contribute to the
personal and professional development of young adolescents in
Nunavik," said Valérie Raymond, Executive Director. "We are
grateful to the Diversity Fund for believing in Nunavik youth by
investing directly in mental illness prevention."
- On Our Own (Les Maisons Transitionnelles), Québec
"To say it's been a difficult year for our families would be an
understatement, but the support we've seen from the Bell Let's Talk
Diversity Fund has had a profound impact," said Ushana Houston,
Director. "This grant means we can increase our output of
educational programming and childcare so no family falls further
behind, allowing them to continue on their personal path to
breaking the cycle of poverty."
- TAIBU Community Health Centre, Ontario
"The Community Healing Project is designed to provide a safer space
for community members to share experiences, strengths and
aspirations in addressing the impact of anti-black racism in the
Black communities," said Liben
Gebremikael, Executive Director. "This project is being
implemented at a time when we are observing the heightened trauma
of the community due to systemic oppression compounded by the
impact of COVID-19. We are grateful to the Bell Let's Talk
Diversity Fund for the financial assistance and we will continue to
partner with Bell Let's Talk to further address anti-Black
racism."
- Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, Ontario
"Racism affects mental health. It's that simple," said Allison Fisher, Executive Director. "The last
place we might expect racism is in hospital birthing wards, yet,
that is precisely where many Indigenous mothers face it. It's time
for their stories to be heard. Chi miigwetch (deep gratitude in
Ojibwe) to Bell for seeing the link between anti-Indigenous racism
and mental health. It's an important step towards reconciliation
and ending systemic racism."
Diversity Fund grants in the first cycle now amount to a total
of $2,250,000.
As part of Bell's commitment to take meaningful action to
address the impacts of systemic racism across Canada's
ethno-cultural communities, Bell Let's Talk partnered with Queen's
University, McGill University and
Montréal's Jewish General Hospital in January to host
webinars on mental health in diverse communities and engage in
discussion about resiliency and mental well-being.
The webinars, Mental health in diverse communities. A discussion
about resiliency and mental well-being and La santé
mentale dans les communautés de la diversité. Une discussion sur la
résilience et le bien-être psychologique highlighted
conversations between community leaders, people with lived
experience, and experts in the field of mental health in BIPOC
communities about the current state of mental health in Black,
Indigenous and People of Colour populations.
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