Bell's ‘Let's Talk‘ campaign on February 8 is encouraging Canadians to get out their phones and start talking about mental illness.
For every text message sent and every long-distance call made by Bell and Bell Aliant customers that day, Bell will donate 5 cents toward programs dedicated to mental health.
Last year on Let's Talk Day Canadians had more than 66 million text and long distance conversations, prompting Bell to contribute more than $3 million to Canadian mental health programs.
Mental illness is a growing concern in Canada where one in five people will suffer from mental illness in their lifetime. Because of the stigma attached to mental illness, however, one-third of Canadians won't seek treatment.
Bell's campaign seeks to reduce stigma while raising funds for a five-year $50 million charitable program, which will give grants to various mental health organizations.
This year Bell will distribute $1 million to local organizations fighting stigma and increasing access to mental health care. In 2011, the company was able to support 49 groups.
Bell is also making contributions to care, access and research initiatives at the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group, Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine, Hôpital Charles-LeMoyne, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the University of British Columbia.
To continue the conversation and learn more about mental health, follow the links below. These sites will connect users to information on mental health and suicide prevention.
National Resources
Know Stigma
Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
- http://www.suicideprevention.ca/
- 204-784-4073
Canadian Mental Health Association
Kids Help Phone
- 1-800-668-6868
- www.kidshelpphone.ca
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Anxiety Panic Support (List of Resources by country
Canada -- Suicide and Crisis Hotlines
National Suicide prevention Lifeline
- http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
- 1-800-273-TALK
Honouring Life
Mental Health Commission of Canada
The Mood Disorders Society of Canada
Collateral Damage
Your Life Counts
The Jack Project
British Columbia
CMHA British Columbia division
- http://www.cmha.bc.ca/
- 604-688-3234
- info@cmha.bc.ca
Crisis Centre
- http://www.crisiscentre.bc.ca/about-us/contact-us/
- 1-800-SUICIDE
Here To Help
Youth In B.C.
- http://www.youthinbc.com/
- 1-866-661-3311
Counselling B.C.
- http://www.counsellingbc.com/
- 604-729-6059
Alberta
CMHA Alberta Division
- http://www.alberta.cmha.ca/
- 780-482-6576
- alberta@cmha.ab.ca
Centre for Suicide Prevention
- http://suicideinfo.ca/
- 403-245-3900
Suicide Information & Education Services
Saskatchewan
CMHA Saskatchewan Division
Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Service
Manitoba
CMHA Manitoba Division
Manitoba Suicide Line
- http://www.reasontolive.ca/
- 1-877-435-7170
Yukon
CMHA Yukon Division
- http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/inside_cmha.asp?cID=7641#Yukon
- (867) 668-7144
Depression Undersood
Northwest Territories
CMHA Northwest Territories Division
Ontario
CMHA Ontario Division
Ontario Association for Suicide Prevention Inc.
Distress Centres Ontario
Community Information and Volunteer Centre
Crisis Line
Distress Centres of Toronto
Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council
Hincks-Dellcrest Treatment Centre
Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
D.I.F.D
Quebec
CMHA Quebec
- http://www.acsm.qc.ca/ (French)
Suicide Action Montreal
- www.suicideactionmontreal.org/
- (514) 723-4000
Centre De prevention Du Suicide Du Haut-Richelieu
- 450-348-6300
Newfoundland & Labrador
CMHA Newfound & Labrador Division
- http://www.cmhanl.ca/
- 1-888-737-4668
Coalition Against Violence
Central Health
New Brunswick
CMHA New Brunswick Division
Chimo Helpline
Prince Edward Island
CMHA Prince Edward Island Division
Nova Scotia
CMHA Nova Scotia Division
Metro Help Line
Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia
Guests & People connected to Speak out on Suicide series
Dave Batters (CMHA commercial)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uN1iPXNcq1U
