$250,000 partnership supports
Canadian Red Cross Friendly Calls program for Indigenous
communities in Manitoba and around
Canada
WINNIPEG, MB, Jan. 20,
2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell Let's Talk and the
Canadian Red Cross today announced a $250,000 partnership to enhance access to crisis
support for people living with mental health challenges in
Indigenous communities with the expansion of the Friendly Calls
program.
![Canadian Red Cross volunteer, Cheryl Horgan, on the phone for a visit during one of her weekly calls as part of the Friendly Calls program. (CNW Group/Bell Canada) Canadian Red Cross volunteer, Cheryl Horgan, on the phone for a visit during one of her weekly calls as part of the Friendly Calls program. (CNW Group/Bell Canada)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1730257/Bell_Canada_Bell_Let_s_Talk_ramps_up_mental_health_support_for_I.jpg)
The Canadian Red Cross Friendly Calls program helps address
feelings of isolation and loneliness, which have intensified for
many throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The program pairs a
trained Red Cross volunteer with a youth or adult who is feeling
isolated or lonely for a social conversation, and connects them
with mental health resources available in their community to help
meet their needs. This support will help the Red Cross to work with
regional Indigenous organizations, including the Assembly of
Manitoba Chiefs, to develop and expand the Friendly Calls program
later this spring to serve the unique experience of Indigenous
people around the country with a focus on cultural safety and
community accessibility. All Canadian Red Cross volunteers and
staff are diversity trained and receive cultural competency
training with attention to issues that are specific and significant
to First Nations.
The Indigenous-specific Friendly Calls programming is being
co-designed with partners, including Indigenous Elders and
Knowledge Keepers. Program development has included the support of
long-standing Canadian Red Cross partners like the Assembly of
Manitoba Chiefs, ensuring effective and appropriate programming
consistent with community-identified needs and priorities.
"Bell Let's Talk is pleased to build on our existing partnership
with the Canadian Red Cross to bring new mental health resources to
Indigenous families that need them now more than ever. The Canadian
Red Cross has a proven track record of supporting culturally safe
health and wellness programming in consultation with Indigenous
communities and leaders and we look forward to supporting the
growth of their important work to help more people living in rural
and remote areas have access to critical mental health care and
support."
- Mary
Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk
"The Canadian Red Cross collaborates with hundreds of Indigenous
communities across Canada every year, developing and providing
culturally safe and relevant programming to help people. This
support from Bell Let's Talk will enable the Red Cross to broaden
our efforts with the Friendly Calls program and help further this
culturally safe and community-led assistance."
- Shelley
Cardinal, Director of Indigenous Relations for Canadian Red
Cross
"The continuing impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health
of Indigenous communities in Manitoba are significant and represent an
added layer of challenge on top of the many compounding issues
facing Indigenous youth and their families. From pandemic response
to vaccination campaigns to emergency preparedness efforts, the
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has a strong working relationship with
the Canadian Red Cross. We look forward to supporting the
development of their Friendly Calls program for Indigenous
communities in partnership with Bell Let's Talk."
- Grand Chief Arlen Dumas, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
In 2020, Bell Let's Talk and the Canadian Red Cross announced a
$700,000 donation to help support the
mental well-being of Canadians during COVID-19 with a significant
expansion of the Friendly Calls program in communities with
increased demand for mental health services. Today's announcement
is a major commitment from this donation to support the accelerated
and community-led delivery of mental health programming in
Indigenous communities in Canada.
To become a volunteer for the Friendly Calls program, please click
here.
Bell Let's Talk Day is January
26 – Join the conversation!
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, LinkedIn, 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 lens. 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 – and is part of Bell for Better. Since its
launch in 2010, Bell Let's Talk has partnered with more than 1,300
organizations providing mental health services throughout Canada,
including hospitals, universities, local community service
providers and other care and research organizations. To learn more,
please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
About the Canadian Red Cross
Here
in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to
help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – which is made
up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 192
national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies – the Canadian Red
Cross is dedicated to helping people and communities in
Canada and around the world in
times of need and supporting them in strengthening their
resilience.
Media Inquiries:
Morgan Shipley
Bell MTS
204-391-2849
morgan.shipley@bellmts.ca
@Bell_LetsTalk
@Bell_News
Canadian Red Cross
English Media: 1-877-599-9602
French Media: 1-888-418-9111
Stacia Franz
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
204-292-1504
sfranz@manitobachiefs.com
SOURCE Bell Canada