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On February 12, Bell will donate 5¢ more to mental health for every text
and long distance call by Bell and Bell Aliant customers, tweets using
#BellLetsTalk, and Facebook shares of the Bell Let's Talk image
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Join the conversation with national spokesperson Clara Hughes, Michel
Mpambara, Stefie Shock and new Bell Let's Talk team member Seamus
O'Regan to help end the stigma
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This year's Bell Let's Talk campaign highlights the impact of mental
illness on our workplaces and economy
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To learn more please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk
MONTREAL, Jan. 14, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today launched the third
annual Bell Let's Talk campaign in support of Canadian mental health.
National Bell Let's Talk spokesperson Clara Hughes again leads the
campaign to encourage all Canadians to join in the conversation about
mental illness on BELL LET'S TALK DAY FEBRUARY 12 to help end the
stigma.
"It's been so wonderful to hear the voices of Canadians from coast to
coast to coast join in the conversation about mental health with Bell
Let's Talk," said Ms. Hughes, Canada's six-time Olympic medalist.
"Every day, 500,000 Canadians miss work due to mental illness. Not
because they're lazy, not because they're having fun, but because
they're sick and need help. Talking openly about mental illness lets
people know that they shouldn't be afraid to get the support they need
- at home, at work, in their community. On February 12, let's talk
Canada!"
The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative is a 5-year, $50-million
charitable program based on 4 action pillars: anti-stigma, care and
access, research, and workplace best practices. With Bell Let's Talk
Day as its anti-stigma centrepiece, Bell's initiative is providing
significant funding for leading mental health hospitals and grassroots
organizations, driving new workplace initiatives across corporate
Canada, and supporting new research.
Bell Let's Talk Day is February 12
"We're making significant progress in the fight to end the stigma, but 2
out of 3 people with mental health issues still suffer in silence. The
impact of mental illness on our economy is estimated to be at least $51
billion a year. With 1 in 5 Canadians suffering from a mental illness
in their lifetimes, the impact on people's lives is incalculable," said
George Cope, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE. "On Bell Let's
Talk Day, we can let all those who continue to struggle with mental
illness know they have our support."
For every text message or long distance call made by Bell and Bell
Aliant customers and every tweet using #BellLetsTalk and every Facebook
share of our Bell Let's Talk image on February 12, Bell will donate 5
cents to programs dedicated to mental health (regular long distance and
text charges apply). In 2012, 8 million Canadians answered Clara's call
with more than 78 million text messages, long distance calls and
retweets on Bell Let's Talk Day, resulting in $3,926,014.20 in
additional funding for mental health initiatives across the country.
Seamus O'Regan joins Clara, Michel and Stefie
Starting today, Bell Let's Talk 2013 will be supported by a national
promotional campaign featuring Clara as well as author, composer and
performer Stefie Shock and actor-comedian Michel Mpambara in Québec.
Joining the Bell Let's Talk team this year is award-winning journalist
and CTV National News team correspondent Seamus O'Regan. Together
Clara, Stefie, Michel and Seamus will lead the national conversation
about mental health throughout the day on February 12.
There are many ways to join in and support Bell Let's Talk Day
including:
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Create a text chain: text 10 friends and have them text it to 10
friends, and so on
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Join us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BellCanada
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Follow us @Bell_LetsTalk and tweet using #BellLetsTalk
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Use the online conversation toolkit at Bell.ca/LetsTalk to encourage others to support Bell Let's Talk Day
Bell Let's Talk Community Fund 2013
The third annual Bell Let's Talk Community Fund launches today, ready to
distribute $1 million in 2013 to local organizations across Canada that
are working to end stigma and increasing access to mental health care.
"Mental illness continues to affect 1 in 5 Canadians and is the cause of
an estimated $50 billion in lost productivity annually," said Mary
Deacon, Chair of the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative. "Bell
Let's Talk is providing much-needed support to mental health
organizations helping people in communities across the country and
raising awareness about the importance of mental health to our society
and economy."
During the past two years, the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund has
provided more than $2 million to 109 organizations across the country
through grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.
Since September 2010, Bell has committed over $20 million to care,
access and research initiatives at mental health organizations across
the country, including the Royal Ottawa Hospital, Hôpital Louis-H.
Lafontaine, Hôpital Charles-LeMoyne, the Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health (CAMH), the University of British Columbia, the Douglas
Mental Health University Institute, Fondation Robert-Giffard and
Queen's University.
Bell was honoured to be named the recipient of the 2012 Freeman
Philanthropic Services Award for Outstanding Corporation for the Bell
Let's Talk mental health initiative.
About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and
business with solutions to all their communications needs: Bell
Mobility wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell Satellite TV and Bell
Fibe TV, Bell Home Phone local and long distance, and Bell Business
Markets IP-broadband and information and communications technology
(ICT) services. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with
leading assets in television, radio and digital media, including CTV,
Canada's #1 television network, and the country's most-watched
specialty channels. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For Bell products and
services, please visit Bell.ca. For BCE corporate information, please visit BCE.ca.
SOURCE: Bell Canada
