QUÉBEC, Jan. 21, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell and the Université Laval
Foundation today announced a $225,000 contribution from Bell Let's Talk
to support a new program that will help students who experience mental
health issues.
Called Mental Health in a University Environment: Understanding and Taking
Action, the initiative supports the development of mental health training for
frontline members of the university community. The training will help
guide staff members in their efforts to assist students in distress and
provide them with the help they need. This new mental health program
has been designed and is being implemented by the Student Services
Office and the Vice-Rector, Human Resources.
"Bell is very pleased to support Université Laval's new mental health
program, which will help students cope without jeopardizing their
studies," said Martine Turcotte, Vice Chair, Québec for Bell. "Most
people impacted by mental illness suffer in silence for fear of being
judged or rejected because of the continuing stigma. Improving access
to mental health care and talking openly about the need for these
services are priorities for Bell Let's Talk."
Bell's contribution to the program will also enable the Student
Assistance Centre to offer specialized support for students who may
have considerable difficulty in controlling their emotions, thoughts
and behaviours when under stress.
"These programs will help us to develop a well-informed university
community that is able to respond effectively and consistently to
students in distress," explains Henri Hamel, Director of the Université
Laval Student Assistance Centre.
"Hypersensitivity to difficult life events can make normal daily
existence painful, even unbearable, should crisis situations arise,"
added Martine Coulombe, psychologist at the Université Laval Student
Assistance Centre, responsible for the development of the student
mental health program. "This initiative will provide the tools
university staff members need to support students dealing with mental
health challenges."
"Université Laval is a place for research, progress and knowledge
sharing. The future of our society is being shaped here. But,
essentially, nothing is possible if we overlook the human dimension of
our students—the leaders of tomorrow," said Denis Brière, Rector of
Université Laval. "That's why it is vital for us to provide them with a
quality teaching and research environment and to support them in every
possible way in their endeavour to achieve academic success."
About Bell Let's Talk
The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative is built around 4 action
pillars - anti-stigma, care and access, research, and workplace best
practices. Bell Let's Talk partners with a growing number of mental
health leaders across Canada including Institut universitaire en santé
mentale de Montréal, Hôpital Charles-LeMoyne, Montreal Jewish Hospital,
the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, La Fondation du Centre
hospitalier universitaire de Québec, and Concordia University.
Bell Let's Talk Day is January 28
The fourth annual Bell Let's Talk Day, set for January 28, 2014, invites
Canadians to join the conversation and help end the stigma around
mental illness. On Bell Let's Talk Day, Bell donates 5 cents for every
text sent, mobile call, and long distance call made by Bell and Bell
Aliant customers, every tweet using #BellLetsTalk, and every Facebook
share of the Bell Let's Talk Day image. Bell's donations are made at no
extra charge to Bell Let's Talk Day participants, though normal long
distance or text charges, if any, apply.
To date, Bell has already committed $62,043,289.30 to Canadian mental
health based on its original $50 million commitment and participation
in Bell Let's Talk Day since 2011.
To learn more please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk
About the Université Laval Student Assistance Centre
The Université Laval Student Assistance Centre is a sub-unit of the
Student Services Office. In joint collaboration with other units of the
university, its mandate is to provide direct and indirect assistance
for the normal development of students who may experience crisis
episodes during the course of their university studies. For more
information, please consult https://www.aide.ulaval.ca (available in French only).
About the Université Laval Foundation
Created in 1966, the Université Laval Foundation has a mandate to
organize and carry out fundraising campaigns, and to administer
donations. It welcomes the generosity of graduates, friends,
organizations and foundations that support teaching and research
activities at Université Laval. Over the years, the donations received
have helped create 600 or so funds in a broad and diverse group of
fields. Among the French university foundations, the Université Laval
Foundation ranks first in terms of capitalized funds. For more
information, please consult http://www.ful.ulaval.ca (available in French only).
About Bell
Headquartered in Montréal since 1880, Bell is Canada's largest
communications company, providing consumers and business customers with
leading TV, wireless, Internet, media, home phone and business
communications solutions. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia
company with leading assets in television, radio and digital media.
Bell is wholly owned by Montréal's BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For more
information, please visit Bell.ca.
SOURCE La Fondation de l'Université Laval
