Bell Lets Talk Archives - Muskoka411

Georgian Receives $100K From Bell Let’s Talk To Enhance Student Mental Health Services

Muskoka411 Staff — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 16:09:03 +0000

Georgian College will enhance existing mental health services across all campuses thanks to $100,000 from the Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund. With this new investment, the college will add a student mental health peer support program to its mental health and well-being resources.

Peer support is a nationally and internationally recognized prevention and support strategy in mental health care, and it will become part of Georgian’s stepped-care model of supports.

“Bell Let’s Talk is pleased to provide a $100,000 Post-Secondary Fund grant for a peer support program for students at Georgian College,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “Bell Let’s Talk is committed to continuing to support student mental health and well-being to create positive change for mental health.”

Jennifer Lloyd, Manager, Mental Health and Well-being (MHWB) at Georgian said given the increase and onset of mental health challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic among postsecondary students and the demand for mental health support, the college determined that empowering students and using their abilities to support one another safely and effectively, is an important opportunity to pursue.

“The success of Georgian’s Peer Mentor and Niwijiagan Peer Mentor programs demonstrates the value of student-to-student support,” said Lloyd. “Until now, Georgian hasn’t had a peer support program specifically for mental health. This new program is intended to provide non-clinical mental health support to both full- and part-time students across all our campus locations.”

Lloyd added that successfully supporting student mental health begins with ensuring equitable access to a range of student-centered services within a stepped care model. The MHWB Peer Support program also supports Georgian’s efforts to reduce stigma related to mental health and seeking help.

Data analysis from extensive consultations with students and employees indicated that the development and implementation of a mental health peer support program should be a key priority in the college’s MHWB Strategic Plan.

The MHWB Peer Support team includes a MHWB Peer Support Project Manager and Co-ordinator who will be responsible for the daily operations of the program, and 10 MHWB Peer Supporters who are upper-year Georgian students. They will provide direct mental health support to peers seeking assistance and will be required to have lived experience with their own journey of mental health challenges and managing, overcoming, and/or living with that challenge.

The MHWB Peer Supporters will receive extensive training in accordance with the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Peer Support Guidelines, including:

Key Principles of Peer Support
Suicide prevention and supporting through crisis
Supportive communication practices
Techniques for providing text-based support
Trauma informed practices
Personal and professional boundaries
Resiliency, self-care, and personal growth

The program launches in February.

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Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund Grant Supports Mental Health Care At Soldiers’

Kelly Hart — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 23:08:30 +0000

Mental Health Services at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (Soldiers’) will be putting their $20,000 grant from the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund towards training and education for hospital staff. Delayed due to Covid-19 emergency needs, the 2020 Community Fund grant is now being put into action assisting Soldiers’ staff in providing mental health supports and services to residents in Orillia and those living in surrounding communities.

“This generous funding from our partners at Bell is being used to train our Community Mental Health clinicians in specialized trauma treatment modalities,” says Brandon Lewicki, Program Manager, Mental Health Services at Soldiers’. “Our goal for the Mental Health Services program at Soldiers’ is to increase the accessibility of trauma related treatments for our clients in Orillia and surrounding areas. There is a gap in service for those that require these treatments and who otherwise wouldn’t have the financial means to access them.”

Soldiers’ has already started implementing the gift from Bell to provide cognitive behavioural therapy accreditation and trauma and addictions training for the hospital’s social workers, as well as dual diagnosis training to all front line staff.

The need for accessible mental health services is essential and has proven to be even more so over the last two years. The grant from the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund has provided a necessary opportunity to bring that accessibility to Orillia and the many surrounding communities that rely on these services from Soldiers’. In addition to the training and accreditation courses, remaining funds have be allocated for education and program awareness workshops within the community to increase the reach of services and support for mental health.

“We are very thankful to Bell Let’s Talk for all the support it’s provided through this grant, added Lewicki, “We look forward to future opportunities to partner with them again for the health of our community,”

“Bell Let’s Talk is pleased to support Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital’s training in evidence-based CBT, trauma and other mental health treatment programs for front line staff,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund provides grants to mental health organizations in communities like Orillia that are working to expand access to mental health care programs for more community members who need support and rely on services such as those in their local hospital setting.”

Today is Bell Let’s Talk Day

Today Bell donates an additional 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.

Bell Let’s Talk promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let’s Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives throughout the country. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

To make a donation towards the Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Mental Health Services program, please visit SoldiersFoundation.ca.

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Bell Let’s Talk Ramps Up Mental Health Support For Indigenous Families And Communities

Kelly Hart — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 16:55:13 +0000

Bell Let’s Talk and the Canadian Red Cross 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.

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.

SOURCE Bell Canada

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Bell Let’s Talk Announces $1M In Funding For Post-Secondary Student Mental Health Programs

Kelly Hart — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 15:10:57 +0000

Bell Let’s Talk today announced that $1 million in grants from the Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund have been awarded to 16 Canadian colleges, universities and cégeps to support them in implementing initiatives that align with the National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students (the Standard) or the Québec Action Plan on Student Mental Health for Higher Education (Québec Action Plan).

According to the 2021 survey by the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, the pandemic has not only worsened pre-existing mental health challenges in 78% of students, but it has created new challenges for 64%, and while some students remain optimistic, the percentage has dropped by 5% in the past year to 41%.

“Bell’s commitment to student mental health is an ongoing priority especially as students continue to be impacted by the effects of the pandemic. We are proud to continue our support of post-secondary institutions’ efforts to expand, enhance or establish programs that support student mental health and well-being, and ultimately student success.” – Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk

To date, Bell Let’s Talk has awarded over $4 million in grants to Canadian post-secondary institutions, starting with more than $3 million in initial grants to over 120 schools in early 2021.

“Bell Let’s Talk has been a leader in supporting the Standard and as Chair of the Technical Committee for the Standard, I welcome Bell’s continued funding for institutional projects that support our call to action. The first wave of funding in 2021 provided opportunity for more than 120 campuses to complete self-assessments to define next steps. This second phase of funding will support development of programming that evaluates outcomes and efficacy in creating strong mentally healthy environments. It will be exciting to see successful and effective projects that can be shared with others across the country.” – Janine Robb, Executive Director of Health & Wellness, University of Toronto

Schools like Cégep de Sherbrooke are using Bell Let’s Talk funds to implement campus programs to support the current mental health needs of their students.

“The Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund will contribute to the development of a pilot project to integrate psychological health concepts into certain courses starting this fall. We hope this initiative will then be extended to all students in order to provide them with concrete tools to promote their psychological well-being and a healthy life balance.” – Marie-France Bélanger, Executive Director of the Cégep de Sherbrooke

“We are thrilled to receive a Bell Let’s Talk Implementation Grant to help establish McMaster’s Student Urgent Response Team (SURT), a mental health outreach and support service to assist our students facing a mental health crises. The SURT will provide virtual and in-person services to students. It will also help train educational staff and faculty to more confidently provide assistance to students in crisis. Strengthening programs and services in support of student mental health is a collective effort, and we’re very grateful for our partnership with Bell Let’s Talk.” – Sean Van Koughnett, Associate Vice-President (Students and Learning) and Dean of Students, McMaster University

“We are very pleased to receive an implementation grant from the Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund to create a new position specializing in diversity wellness. This position will not only support QTBIPOC students to identify and address needs for positive mental health but it will also create wellness activities and ventures, evaluate and make recommendations for programming and develop training resources for faculty and staff. Our students’ voices are important to us and we recognize that a sense of belonging is a strong predictor of academic success and improved well-being for marginalized students.” – Dr. Paul J. Mazerolle, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of New Brunswick

“We are truly thankful for our second Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary grant to advance our Peer Support Program for Wellness. Our program is designed to work in partnership with our Students’ Association to provide a student-led support network who can offer additional training, referrals, and inclusive and safe spaces for students to collaborate in support of each other.” – Brandy Robertson, Wellness Student Success Advisor, Assiniboine Community College

To see a complete list of the schools receiving grants and the programs they plan to implement, please click here.

The application process for the 2022 Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Implementation grants will open in the spring.

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Bell Let’s Talk Day, The World’s Biggest Conversation About Mental Health, Is January 26

Kelly Hart — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 23:15:43 +0000

Bell Let’s Talk Day 2022 is January 26. As we continue to focus on action to increase awareness around mental health and mental illness, we encourage Canadians and people worldwide to keep listening, keep talking and keep being there for ourselves and each other.

Join the conversation on Bell Let’s Talk Day!
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, 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.

The Bell Let’s Talk Day team
Bell Let’s Talk is proud to welcome back the following incredible team members:

Friends of Bell Let’s Talk, to share their personal stories about living with mental illness
Our amazing spokespeople including Olympian and Bell Let’s Talk founding spokesperson Clara Hughes, Étienne Boulay, Marie-Soleil Dion, Michael Landsberg, Howie Mandel, Michel Mpambara, Stefie Shock and Mary Walsh
Our community ambassadors including actress Véronique Bannon, retired CFL player Shea Emry, TV host and author, Joanie Gonthier, comedian Jessica Holmes, pro golfer Andrew Jensen and musician Florence K

Bell Let’s Talk 2022 announcements:

Launch of the 2022 Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund, the $2 million annual program that provides grants up to $25,000 for local and grassroots mental health initiatives
New recipients of the Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund, which supports the mental health and well-being of BIPOC communities across Canada
New funding for mental health projects across the country

Bell Media programming
Bell Media will feature special mental health content in English and French across its TV, radio and digital properties as part of the Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign, including a special Bell Let’s Talk Day episode of Etalk and French documentaries, Maman, pourquoi tu pleures? available on Crave, Canal Vie and Noovo.ca, and La santé mentale dans le sport professionnel on Noovo and available on RDS at a later date.

The 2022 nationwide Bell Let’s Talk Day multimedia campaign focuses on action, encouraging Canadians to keep listening, keep talking and keep being there for ourselves and each other. Everyone can participate virtually or in-person with family members, friends and members of their communities.

Visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk to download the updated Bell Let’s Talk toolkit and Conversation Guides.

Highlights since the first Bell Let’s Talk Day in 2011:

1.3 billion messages of support
$121,373,806.75 in total Bell funding
the most-used Canadian hashtag of all time
#BellLetsTalk, a top Twitter trend in Canada and worldwide
the Bell Let’s Talk Day video – Canada’s most engaged brand tweet in 2021

“As we prepare to mark the 12^th annual Bell Let’s Talk Day, I am pleased to announce Bell’s commitment to continued leadership in workplace mental health with unlimited mental health benefit coverage for Bell team members and their eligible family members. The past two years have been challenging times for everyone and I encourage all Canadians and people everywhere to join us for the world’s biggest conversation about mental health on January 26.” – Mirko Bibic, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE

“Working together in communities large and small all around the country, we have made great progress in moving mental health forward and increasing awareness about mental illness. On Bell Let’s Talk Day and throughout the year it’s so important to keep listening, keep talking and keep being there for ourselves and each other to make a lasting difference in the lives of so many people impacted by mental illness.” – Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk

SOURCE Bell Canada

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Bell Let’s Talk Day Sets New Records With 159,173,435 Messages

Muskoka411 Staff — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 16:38:26 +0000

Total talk, text and social media interactions increased 3.1% over last year, reflecting a heightened focus on mental health as we all confront the impacts of COVID-19

#BellLetsTalk was once again the top Twitter trend in Canada and worldwide

At 5 cents per message, Bell is donating an additional $7,958,671.75 to mental health; Bell’s total funding commitment now stands at $121,373,806.75, on track to our $155 million target

Now more than ever, every action counts in mental health. And the count is in: Canadians and people around the world set all-new records for engagement in the mental health conversation on Bell Let’s Talk Day 2021, sharing 159,173,435 messages of support and driving $7,958,671.75 in new mental health funding by Bell.

“Thank you to everyone who joined in on Bell Let’s Talk Day to keep Canada’s mental health moving forward,” said Mirko Bibic, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE. “Once again we led the world in talking openly and honestly about mental health and all the ways we can make a difference for people living with mental illness. As we face the added mental health impacts of the COVID crisis, your action is appreciated now more than ever.”

“On behalf of the Bell Let’s Talk team across Canada, thank you for making your actions count this Bell Let’s Talk Day,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of the Bell Let’s Talk initiative. “We’ve made incredible strides in mental health awareness and action over the last 11 years, and the challenges of COVID-19 reinforce that we need to keep building on what we’ve accomplished together. Your incredible support sends a strong signal that mental health matters, and means more Canadians will get better access to the care they need.”

From midnight Newfoundland time to midnight Pacific time there were 159,173,435 eligible Bell Let’s Talk communications, up 3.1% year over year. Social media engagement – hashtags, filters, frames and video views on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube – reached 42,688,092 interactions, with #BellLetsTalk once again the top Twitter trend in Canada and worldwide.

People around the world watched the entertaining Bell Let’s Talk Day videos from singer-songwriter Michael Bublé and comedian Maxim Martin on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, with each view counting toward Bell’s donations to mental health.

Canadians and people around the world set all-new records for engagement in the mental health conversation on #BellLetsTalk Day 2021, sharing 159,173,435 messages of support and driving $7,958,671.75 in new mental health funding by Bell. https://t.co/yS6DEXzhC0 pic.twitter.com/Cvh5oO46H9

— Bell Let's Talk (@Bell_LetsTalk) January 29, 2021

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It’s Bell Let’s Talk Day – Your Voice Is Needed Now More Than Ever

Muskoka411 Staff — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 20:15:50 +0000

You can be part of the conversation by talking, texting and joining in on social media – show your support while directly driving Bell’s donations to mental health just by participating
Watch new Bell Let’s Talk Day videos featuring Michael Bublé and Maxim Martin on multiple social media platforms
Etalk’s In This Together: A Bell Let’s Talk Day Special airs tonight; documentary La santé mentale : une note à la fois on Bell Media French-language channels
Participate in virtual events to learn more about mental health and visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk to discover new ways to take action

Today is the 11^th annual Bell Let’s Talk Day and everyone’s invited to join the conversation to support people living with mental illness while also driving up Bell’s donations to mental health programs just by getting engaged.

“With COVID-19 affecting every aspect of our lives, Canadians everywhere are feeling the impact of the ongoing crisis on their mental health. Now more than ever, every action counts – and we invite you to make lending your voice to the Bell Let’s Talk Day conversation one of the actions you take for mental health today,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “Over the last decade, Canadians have built a mental health movement unlike anything in the world, and together we’ve made a positive difference in countless lives. Let’s keep the momentum going by making Bell Let’s Talk Day 2021 our biggest ever!”

Michael Bublé and Maxim Martin in new Bell Let’s Talk Day videos
This year’s Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign highlights the actions we can all take to support mental health in the face of the COVID crisis. To reinforce the message, singer-songwriter Michael Bublé and comedian Maxim Martin have recorded funny and thoughtful new videos of support – and every view of the videos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube today will count toward Bell’s donations to mental health.

“I’ve admired Bell’s commitment to mental health for years,” said Michael Bublé. “Now as COVID-19 rages across our country, it’s especially vital that we all step up and do our part. Everyone has been impacted by the virus. But if we all get involved, we can lessen the impact of mental illness on our loved ones.”

Take action and drive Bell’s donations
Canadians everywhere can use multiple communications platforms to join in the conversation today. By getting engaged, you directly drive Bell’s ongoing donations to Canadian mental health programs – all at no cost beyond what you may normally pay your service provider for Internet, text or phone access.

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 videos; and every use of the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook frame or Snapchat filter.

Over the first 10 annual Bell Let’s Talk Days, Canadians and people around the world have sent a total of more than 1.1 billion messages of support for mental health – bringing Bell’s total funding commitment up to $113,415,135 so far.

Here are some of the many Bell Let’s Talk Day events taking place today:

In This Together: A Bell Let’s Talk Day Special
Etalk’s Tyrone Edwards and The Social’s Melissa Grelo lead the mental health conversation as hosts of In This Together: A Bell Let’s Talk Day Special, premiering at 7pm ET/PT on CTV, CTV2 and Crave. The special highlights Canadians and their mental health journeys through a year of disruptions and unique challenges.

Crave highlights mental health
Crave’s Mental Health Awareness Collection showcases programming in English and French that explores mental health issues including HBO’s Euphoria, I Know This Much Is True, and I May Destroy You; Crave documentary Rat Park; Canadian documentaries and films such as The Grizzlies; and Bell Let’s Talk Day specials like In This Together: A Bell Let’s Talk Day Special; Awareness, Acceptance & Action; Santé mentale : une note à la fois; and Plus Forts Ensembles.

La santé mentale : une note à la fois
Documentary La santé mentale : une note à la fois follows the stories of musicians Steve Veilleux, Laurence Jalbert and Safia Nolin, and features slam poet David Goudreault. Airing on Canal D, Canal Vie and VRAK, the documentary will also be available at Noovo.ca, vrak.tv, Crave, CanalVie.com and CanalD.com.

La semaine des 4 Julie
Julie Snyder hosts Steve Veilleux and Bell Let’s Talk spokesperson Marie-Soleil Dion to talk about mental health on a Noovo primetime special La semaine des 4 Julie at 9pm ET.

Kids Eat Smart Mental Health Breakfast
More than 2,400 students at junior high schools in Newfoundland and Labrador will receive a healthy breakfast in their classroom today to inspire a discussion about youth mental health.

TIFF mental health programming
TIFF is adding a free Bell Let’s Talk Day collection to the digital TIFF Bell Lightbox. The selection of short films exploring mental health will be available from January 28 to February 4 and includes A Woman’s Block; The Blind Stigma: Mental Health within the Black Community; Point and Line to Plane; and The Weight. TIFF will be hosting a digital conversation January 28 at 12pm ET with writer-director Rebeccah Love joining TIFF programmer Hoda Ali to talk about Love’s film A Woman’s Block and the power of cinema to spark action in mental health. The conversation will be simulcast across TIFF’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels.

Toronto Writers Collective event
Toronto Writers Collective will offer free virtual creative writing workshops with a focus on mental health and well-being. The volunteer-led workshops are open to anyone looking for community and creativity, no writing experience necessary. Workshops take place at 10am, 1:30pm and 7pm ET. Online registration is required and space is limited.

Cleveland Clinic Canada Webinar
Cleveland Clinic Canada will offer a free webinar to Canadian business leaders at 11am ET with a focus on prioritizing workplace mental health while also discussing the impact COVID-19 is having on the mental health of employees. Hosted by Dr. Cathy (CJ) Campbell, the expert panel will include Cleveland Clinic Canada CEO Mike Kessel, internal medicine physician Dr. Jeff Alfonsi and psychiatrist Dr. Claire Harrigan.

Toronto Rehab and UHN host wellness webinar
Bell Let’s Talk partners Toronto Rehab and University Health Network are hosting a Wellness Webinar for UHN staff at 12pm ET. Let’s Talk Mental Health, Gratitude and You features Cheryl Sutherland, Founder of PleaseNotes Goods, and Toronto Rehab Psychologist Dr. Martha McKay providing insights on the mental health impacts of COVID-19, the importance of self-care and available mental health resources.

Festival d’été de Québec
Le Festival d’été de Québec invites everyone to its Bell Let’s Talk Day virtual events featuring psychologist Marc Pistorio, financial advisor Michel-Olivier Marcoux, yoga teacher Myriam De la Sablonnière as well Catherine Paquin, Mathieu Dufour, Claudia Bouvette and other guests.

Virtual event for Government of Canada employees
The Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace, the Canada School of Public Service and the Federal Youth Network will host a virtual event open to all federal employees from 12:30pm to 2:30pm ET. Panelists include Bell Let’s Talk advisor and 2020 Champion of Mental Health Dr. Christopher Mushquash, 2019/2020 Face of Mental Illness Onika Dainty, and Daniel Quan-Watson from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.

Patricia Lemoine at Polytechnique Montréal
Friend of Bell Let’s Talk Patricia Lemoine will host a webinar at 12:30pm ET for Polytechnique Montréal students about the day-to-day importance of mental health for those in positions of leadership.

Canadian Armed Forces join the conversation
The CAF will conduct virtual mental health Q&A sessions and a panel discussion between Defence Team members, senior leadership and mental health experts across its social media channels, including Instagram and Facebook. Deputy Minister Jody Thomas and Vice Chief of the Defence Staff LGen Mike Rouleau, DND/CAF mental health co-champions, will host a virtual coffee talk with Defence Team members via Zoom at 12:30pm ET.

Flag raisings will take place at select CAF locations across Canada and internationally, including at CFB Halifax which will livestream its Bell Let’s Talk flag raising at 8am AT. Other CAF regional events include a virtual event at 5^th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown with local guest speakers; CFB Borden’s discussion at 10am ET with retired NHL player and mental health advocate Theo Fleury; Montréal region chaplains are hosting Olympian Sylvie Bernier at 12pm ET for a discussion focused on resiliency and mental health; and Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) Suffield’s online event at 3pm MT on Maintaining good mental health during COVID-19, a discussion with Veterans and their spouses as well as MFRC’s National Program Manager Ghada Makhlouf and Chief Psychiatrist Dr. Alexandra Heber.

Indigo mental health events
In partnership with Indigo, Claire Zlobin, founder of Life With A Baby and Olivia Scobie, parental mental health counsellor, educator and author of Impossible Parenting, will be hosting a virtual conversation at 1pm ET about changing the culture of unrealistic parenting expectations and creating a new culture of mental health for parents.

Beginning at 5pm ET, parenting author Ann Douglas will be in conversation on @IndigoKids Instagram as she discusses her book Parenting Through The Storm: How to Handle the Highs, the Lows and Everything in Between.

Indigo will also be supporting the Canadian Mental Health Association with a donation of $2 for every copy of Grief & Loss & Love & Sex, Lara Margaret Marjerrison’s powerful story of grappling with her sister’s death, sold in store and on indigo.ca from January 28 to February 28, 2021.

Dr. Joti Samra and the University of Guelph
The University of Guelph is hosting an event at 1:30pm ET for team members with psychological health and safety expert Dr. Joti Samra. Participants will learn strategies and actions they can take to support their own and their colleagues’ mental well-being.

Music NL’s The Show Must Go On
Music NL is hosting virtual event The Show Must Go On for their members from 7 to 8pm NT, featuring singer songwriter Damhnait Doyle speaking about her lived experience alongside representatives from CMHA Newfoundland and Labrador.

CMHA Champlain East virtual round table
Join CMHA Champlain East beginning at 6:30pm ET for a virtual round table conversation on mental health with Executive Director Joanne Ledoux-Moshonas and special guests including Bernadette Clement, Angele D’Alessio, Mitch Dubeau, Chantal Larocque, Melanie Brulee, Ivan Labelle and Stephen Douris.

A Mental Health Talk with Creatives
DJ Starting from Scratch will host a virtual conversation about mental health on Twitch from 7pm to 9pm ET, featuring discussions with Ellie K Borden, Mark Brand and Dillon Casey about how artists, creatives and entrepreneurs can cope with mental health impacts.

La Presse live discussion with Sonia Lupien
Journalist Véronique Lauzon will host a discussion in French about stress management with Sonia Lupien, director of the Centre for Studies on Human Stress at the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal and professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Montreal at 8pm ET live on lapresse.ca and on La Presse’s Facebook page.

Montréal Canadiens show their support
Canadiens players and coaching staff will participate in Bell Let’s Talk Day on social media, and coaches will sport Bell Let’s Talk pins when the team faces off against the Calgary Flames at 7pm ET.

Notable landmarks to light up blue
The Toronto and Winnipeg signs, BC Place, High Level Bridge in Edmonton, and the Lt. Governor’s Residence in St. John’s will light up blue to mark Bell Let’s Talk Day.

University and college student engagement
The Bell Let’s Talk Campus Campaign will reach more than 200 universities and colleges throughout Canada. This year’s campaign features a digital toolkit to ensure post-secondary institutions can safely engage students across the country. Schools will also screen short films about mental health provided by the Au Contraire Film Festival.

In March 2020, Bell announced the extension of the Bell Let’s Talk initiative for another 5 years. Including the additional COVID-19 funding, Bell is now targeting a total corporate donation of at least $155 million to Canadian mental health programs. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

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Get Ready To Join The World’s Biggest Conversation About Mental Health On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Jan. 28

Muskoka411 Staff — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 15:17:00 +0000

Bell Let’s Talk Day is January 28, when people throughout Canada and worldwide have the clear opportunity to make our voices heard in the conversation about mental illness. With the challenges we’ve all faced in 2020, taking every action to drive progress in mental health in our communities is of critical importance.

“Now more than ever, every action counts in moving Canada’s mental health forward. The multiple and unprecedented impacts of the last year have underscored the need to address mental illness in new ways as well as the important role we can all play in putting the focus on mental health,” said Mirko Bibic, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE. “Please join us in growing the conversation on Bell Let’s Talk Day January 28 with messages of support for all those who live with mental illness and those taking action to help them.”

“Together we’ve made tremendous progress in increasing awareness of mental health and supporting improved access to care, but demands for help continue to increase dramatically as we confront these difficult times,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of the Bell Let’s Talk initiative. “Bell Let’s Talk is proud to play our part with a $155 million minimum funding commitment and new dedicated programs addressing the impacts of both COVID-19 and systemic racism on our communities. We need your voice too so I hope you can be part of the mental health movement on Bell Let’s Talk Day!”

This year’s nationwide Bell Let’s Talk Day multimedia campaign highlights the actions we can all take. Whether you’re staying virtually connected with a family member, working directly with patients in recovery, investing in access to care or even just taking care of your own mental health, every Canadian can play a part in their communities, workplaces, schools and at home.

Bell will be announcing new funding for mental health projects across the country this month as well as the launch of the 2021 Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund, the $2 million annual program that provides grants up to $25,000 for local and grassroots mental health initiatives. Since the 2011 launch of the Community Fund, 775 organizations in every province and territory have received grants.

Bell Let’s Talk will also announce more recipients of the new Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund, which supports the mental health and well-being of BIPOC communities across Canada, and is partnering with United Way Centraide Canada throughout January to provide thousands more mobile devices and SIM cards to charitable organizations to help those in the greatest need stay connected.

Bell Media will feature special mental health content in English and French across its TV, radio and digital properties as part of the Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign, including a special episode of CTV’s Etalk featuring Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, who will speak candidly about her mental health. On January 28, a full day of programming will include a primetime CTV Bell Let’s Talk Day feature, and a Noovo primetime special “La semaine des 4 Julie” will focus on mental health.

Welcome back the Friends of Bell Let’s Talk, who continue to share their personal stories about living with mental illness.

Join in on Bell Let’s Talk Day!
On January 28, Canadians everywhere will join in the mental health conversation, along with a growing number of participants around the globe. You can use a wide range of communications platforms to join in on Bell Let’s Talk Day – and directly drive Bell’s donations to Canadian mental health programs at no extra cost to you.

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.

Bell Let’s Talk Day 2020 set a new single-day record with 154,387,425 messages across all platforms, growing Bell’s funding for mental health by an additional $7,719,371.25.

Since the first Bell Let’s Talk Day in 2011, Canadians and people around the world have sent a total of more than 1.1 billion messages of support for mental health, bringing Bell’s total funding commitment to $113,415,135 (which includes the company’s original $50 million anchor donation when Bell Let’s Talk launched in 2010, plus an additional $5 million dedicated to COVID-19 response).

Already the most-used Canadian hashtag of all time, #BellLetsTalk was once again a top Twitter trend here in Canada and worldwide in 2020, while the Bell Let’s Talk Day video was Canada’s most retweeted message last year.

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Canadian Red Cross Friendly Calls Program Expands Following $700,000 Donation From Bell Let’s Talk

Maddie Binning — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 14:25:19 +0000

Bell Let’s Talk has announced a $700,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross in support of their Friendly Calls program, which will allow the system of volunteer-run support lines to grow in Ontario and Quebec along with expanding into Atlantic Canada.

The investment announced on June 1 was made to help support the mental health of Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement from Bell. The Friendly Calls program has Red Cross volunteers talk to people who are isolated to help decrease loneliness and connect them to any available mental health resources they may need. The program currently focuses on isolated seniors, said Leianne Musselman, director of communications for the Canadian Red Cross, but they recognize there are others in isolation who may need support. They’ve also received a significant increase in the number of calls due to the impacts of COVID-19, she said.

“The new funding will allow us to expand and enhance the program to address the needs of all age groups who may be experiencing isolation,” Musselman said. “We are in the process of training personnel to provide support to individuals of all ages who are experiencing loneliness and isolation.”

The funding announcement builds on a $250,000 donation Bell made to the Canadian Red Cross in March. Red Cross staff and volunteers will be able to add up to 8,000 new Friendly Calls each month, according to Bell, aiming to provide emotional support and referrals for anyone struggling with their mental health.

A “customized evidence-based telephone screening tool” developed for the COVID-19 pandemic will help volunteers identify each caller’s level of need to help make sure they receive the right support, the statement said. The screening also aims to guide discussions about mood and anxiety, general health and social isolation, as well as topics like financial and medication security.

“The need for health and wellbeing supports continues to increase significantly due to the COVID-19 crisis, and the Red Cross is on the front lines in helping Canadians feel connected during this difficult time,” said Conrad Sauvé, president and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross, in the statement. “With support from Bell Let’s Talk, we are increasing the Friendly Calls program to reach more isolated people who are struggling with how COVID-19 has impacted their lives.”

More information about how to reach the Friendly Calls programs will be available on the Canadian Red Cross website in the coming weeks.

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