Bell Let's Talk

General
Anti-stigma
Care & Access
Workplace health
Research
Community fund
Bell Partners

Bell's support of mental health will have a strong and lasting impact.

In 2010, Bell announced the launch of an unprecedented multi-year charitable program dedicated to the promotion and support of mental health across Canada. Over the next several years, this multi-million dollar initiative will support a wide range of programs that will enhance awareness, understanding and treatment of mental illness and promote access to care and research across the country.

Often invisible, mental illness is one of the most pervasive health issues in the country with far-reaching consequences for every Canadian. One in five people will experience a form of mental illness at some point and most will be reluctant to talk to a co-worker, friend or family member about their struggle, let alone seek treatment. While you may never experience mental illness first-hand, it is likely that you know someone who will.

With more than 60,000 team members in Canada, Bell has taken the initiative to address mental illness in the workplace and at home, helping to make our communities healthier and more productive.

Bell is introducing an extensive array of initiatives to support anti-stigma, increased access to care, additional research and the creation of an overall culture of mental health support across the Canadian business landscape.

For more information on how Bell will be supporting community organisations and if you would like to be added to our mailing list, please email mentalhealth@bell.ca.

Stigma compounds suffering

One of the biggest hurdles to overcome for anyone facing mental illness is the stigma associated with it. It is the leading reason two-thirds of all of those living with a mental illness do not seek help.

To drive progress in reducing stigma, a new campaign called Bell Let's Talk is opening the national conversation about mental illness and its dramatic impact in all parts of the country. Stepping forward as Bell's spokesperson for Bell Let's Talk Day and our campaign to effect change is six-time Olympic medalist Clara Hughes. As a community leader and philanthropist who has come to know and inspire Canadians, Clara has seen the impact of mental illness and understands how important it is to get people talking about it around kitchen and boardroom tables.

Joining Clara as spokespeople for Bell Let's Talk Day and to help grow the dialogue on mental health this year are composer and performer Stefie Shock, actor-comedian Michel Mpambara and journalist Seamus O'Regan.

On February 12, 2013, Bell will once again lead the conversation to reduce stigma with the launch of Bell Let's Talk Day – a national campaign which will raise awareness about mental health across Canada each year. For every text message and long distance call made by Bell customers that day, Bell will contribute 5¢ to programs dedicated to mental health.

Enhancing access to care

Just one-third of those who need mental health related services in Canada will receive treatment, often due to the stigma associated with mental illness or because they simply do not have access to programs in their community. Helping provide Canadians with care when and where they need it, Bell will support a variety of programs offered by grassroots agencies and local hospitals, as well as best-in-class research and treatment facilities.

To this end Bell has reached agreements with several leading health care institutions across the country including:

$1 million to the Royal Ottawa Hospital Foundation to expand its Telepsychiatry Program benefiting rural, northern and remote communities
$1 million to Montréal's Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital Foundation to support innovative research and a new mental health biobank
$10 million to CAMH Foundation (the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), to take the world-leading institution past its landmark $100 million fundraising goal
$300,000 to the Fondation Hôpital Charles-Lemoyne for its adolescent psychiatric unit
$250,000 to the Streetohome Foundation to provide support to homeless or at-risk youth living with mental health issues and addictions in BC

Our $1-million Bell Let's Talk Community Fund launched in 2011 with a focus on improving access to care in local communities. More than 100 grants to organizations supporting mental health in Canada were awarded in 2011 and in 2012. Grant recipients for 2013 will be announced this fall.

Bell leading by example

Mental health is the leading cause of workplace disability in Canada and represents 15% of Canada's burden of disease. As a leading employer, Bell is committed to working with corporate Canada and the health care community to develop and adopt mental health best practices in the workplace.

At Bell, this includes enhanced and easy access to mental health information for Bell team members, including seminars and other learning events throughout the year, and advanced return-to-work programs.

All Bell senior leaders and managers are taking part in new training and information programs. Bell is participating in corporate roundtables and other initiatives to support the creation of an overall culture of mental health support across the Canadian business landscape.

Supporting best in class

Mental illness is the leading cause of disability in Canada, accounting for 30% of disability claims and representing 70% of the total costs. Yet only 5.5% of our healthcare dollars in Canada are dedicated to mental illness.

Around the world, hundreds of millions of people are affected by mental illness. It is expected that by 2020 it will be the leading cause of disability on the planet. But without adequate funding, the groundbreaking research that is needed to find cures and explore treatment options won't happen.

Bell is supporting research into understanding and treatment with investments in best-in-class research programs at hospitals, universities and other institutions across Canada. Bell is also supporting the best researchers with funding of new chairs, fellowships and project grants.

Here are some of the projects that Bell is pleased to be supporting:

Bell has donated $1 million to the University of British Columbia to establish the Bell Youth Mental Health Impact Project which will allow UBC researchers to conduct mental health outreach to youth in need throughout BC.
Bell is donating $2-million to the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montréal for research activities associated with the Douglas-Bell Canadian Brain Bank, a world-class brain centre unique in Canada.
Bell Canada and Queen's University announced a world-first with the establishment of a new $1-million research initiative to help fight the stigma associated with mental illness.

Bell Let's Talk Community Fund

The Bell Let's Talk Community Fund is part of the Bell Mental Health Initiative, a $50 million multi-year national program in support of mental health.

The 2013 Bell Let's Talk Community Fund will provide grants of $5,000 to $50,000 to organizations, hospitals and agencies focused on improving access to mental health care and making a positive impact in their communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

Preference will be given to capacity building projects aimed at creating or expanding programs that provide front-line support and/or reduce the stigma for those impacted by mental health issues.

The Bell Let's Talk Community Fund does not provide multi-year funding. Grant recipients will only be eligible for another Community Fund grant one year after the date of any previous grant.

The 2013 Community Fund application window is now closed. Successful grant recipients will be announced this summer.

The application window will open again in January 2014. Please return to bell.ca/letstalk for more information closer to this time.

Who is eligible for funding?

Registered not-for-profit organizations, registered charities, local hospitals and social service agencies are eligible for funding. Preference will be given to organizations providing audited financials.

Business or contract fundraisers, individuals, families and political parties are not eligible for funding.

General criteria

Projects must be in Canada
Projects must demonstrate the ability to improve access to care in their community and provide tangible metrics demonstrating the increase in number of individuals supported by their project
Applicants must submit a detailed budget for their project
Applicants must demonstrate strong likelihood of successfully launching proposed the project with adequate budget (must indicate other funders)
Applicants must provide a measurement plan for projects supporting clear objectives and expected outcomes
Applicants must agree and adhere to the terms and conditions as stated in the online application form

Exclusions

Capital campaigns (bricks and mortar projects)
Multi-year funding requests
On-going employment of staff
Event sponsorship
Business funding
Contract fundraisers
Individuals or families
Political parties

For further information about the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund please email mentalhealth@bell.ca..

2012 Recipients

Boys and Girls Club of East Dartmouth

Dartmouth, NS

The FRIENDS for Life project is an evidence-based early intervention and prevention program developed in Australia and supported by the World Health Organization to prevent and intervene in the development of anxiety and depression in children and youth. Working together with the Dartmouth Community Health Board, the IWK Health Centre, Public Health Services, Schools Plus and the Boys & Girls Club, they will offer the Friends for Life Program training to staff at local schools and community centres to then offer the program to students. This program has been successfully offered to schools and community centres in another health board area and they look forward to bringing the program to the Dartmouth community.

Cape Breton Mental Health Foundation & Crossroads

Cape Breton, NS

This is a joint project between Crossroads ACES members and the Cape Breton Mental Health Foundation. The ACES of Crossroads Cape Breton consists of members between 19 and 30 years of age who live with mental illness. The Foundation will use its grant to open and provide access to a media centre which will create new training and educational opportunities for clients in various fields of interest. The goal is to provide support in helping clients develop new skills and access work opportunities.

Capital Region Mental Health & Addictions

New Brunswick

This Anxiety Prevention/ Intervention Program for Children and Youth will fill the gap in services that both the school district and mental health centre recognize as being needed for children and youth with anxiety. Bringing the program to the community will assist children and youth manage symptoms of anxiety and build resiliency. This project will directly impact children, youth, their teachers, support workers, community workers, counsellors and parents.

College of the North Atlantic

Newfoundland & Labradour

The College will train approximately 6 Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) facilitators so they can teach MHFA to both the college community and the community at large.

Fire Marshall's Office

PEI

The Prince Edward Island Fire Service will train approximately 800 volunteer firefighters in an introductory overview of Critical Incident Stress (CIS) - to create an awareness of CIS so that firefighters would be aware of, more receptive to, and act upon personal and peer signals of Critical Incident Stress. This program will address cultural barriers that prevent fire fighters from seeking help for symptoms of chronic and single event stress and prepare fire fighters before they are exposed to stressful situations.

Mental Health Professionals will be trained as CISM trainers, and will be able to train other first responder groups in the province.

Kingston/Greenwood Mental Health Coalition

Nova Scotia

The aim of this project is to bring three Mental Health First Aid workshops to their community including one in French. This will allow the organization to build capacity surrounding mental health issues in the community. Specifically, providing the workshops will improve the front line services offered to people experiencing mental health issues. In addition, they will also provide a current data bank of mental health services and resources available locally to the participants.

BC Schizophrenia Society

Kelowna

The Bridges Education Program provides a free education course that helps persons recovering from a mental illness to cope through a better understanding of their illness and its treatment, to better communicate their individual concerns and feelings, to become aware of the support organizations that are available in the community, and to deal with the effects of stigma. The project support from Bell's grant will enable a substantial increase in the number of persons served.

Canadian Mental Health Association

Prince George

The Resource Housing Outreach program will provide short term life skills support to individuals with severe and persistent mental health issues who are transitioning from homelessness to housing. The goal is not only to assist with achieving suitable and safe housing but also to support the development of skills and community involvement that help to ensure the maintenance of safe housing.

Canadian Mental Health Association

Shuswap / Revelstoke

Living Life to the Full – a new evidence-based program – will be offered to the community in a group format. Trained facilitators use small group activities to identify and work on improved feelings, moods and behaviours. The course includes activities designed to engage participants at their comfort level and inspire them to shift how they respond to the stresses in their lives.

Coast Mental Health Foundation

Vancouver

The Coast Mental Health Foundation will expand their peer support program for people with severe mental illness and continue to provide clients with mental illness the opportunity to continue their journey to recovery while gaining skills in coaching, mentoring, group facilitation, and self advocacy. Individuals who are selected enter an intensive three level training program which includes role play, practicum, and a six month paid work placement. Graduates of the program assist clients to advocate for themselves and provide leadership to other Coast clients.

First Funds Society

Vancouver

The Community Voicemail Project provides banks of live, local telephone numbers with personal greeting and voice mail to 75 front-line mental health and social service providers all over the Greater Vancouver Regional District. Case workers from these organizations provide voicemail access to over 1,500 clients who are homeless, impoverished and often facing severe mental health issues. With access to private voicemail numbers these individuals have the ability to reach out for housing, employment, healthcare and social services and break free of isolation.

Loco Motion Canada Performance Society

Province-wide

This talented and innovative theatrical production company will produce 'What's Normal?' – a 30-minute theatrical play based on experiences from mental health consumers. The project will provide people with lived experience the opportunity to develop skills and self efficacy as well as educate the public about the complexities of living with mental illness and thus reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.

Mood Disorders Association of BC

Province-wide

The Lowdown Speakers Bureau will expand the delivery of its services which are devoted to removing the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness through interactive, inspiring personal accounts from young people who have been affected by mental illness. The discussions are facilitated through presentations and are designed to specifically target special interest groups such as high school assemblies, colleges/universities and employees of organizations that work in close contact with youth with mental illness. They anticipate speaking to 3,000 individuals in the coming year in four separate regions of the province (Lower Mainland, Prince George, Okanagan and Victoria) allowing them to grow their reach by 30%.

Nanaimo Family Life Association

Nanaimo

The Grey Matters program will to continue to offer seniors training in communication and peer counselling. The trained seniors will then mentor and counsel other seniors ages 55 to 100. One of the key benefits for those who enjoy the program is that whether their mental health challenges are self-identified or they are referred by their doctors, all clients have a welcoming, non-shaming place to access free, quality ongoing support to increase their quality of life through capacity building, and relationship building and the ability to 'give back' to their peers.

Pacific Post Partum Support Society

Province-wide

The Pacific Post Partum Support Society will extend its services for women in underserved communities with mental health related aid during and after the birth or adoption of a child. These services include increased and enhanced telephone support, pilot telephone support accessibility outside the Lower Mainland and additional facilitated groups for new mothers.

Potluck Café Society

Province-wide

The Potluck Café Society will continue to transform lives by creating jobs and providing healthy food for people living in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES). As a social enterprise and registered charity, Potluck Café Society operates Potluck Café & Catering to support neighborhood residents with barriers to traditional employment, including many living with mental health challenges, while earning revenue to support its community programs. Potluck is a pioneer in delivering ongoing and dedicated Life Skills support for its staff with barriers to employment and on-the-job training.

Surrey Memorial Hosp Foundation

Surrey

The Adolescent Day Treatment Program provides service to youth ages 13-18 who are experiencing severe psychiatric difficulties such as Schizophrenia and other illnesses involving psychosis, Major Affective Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or other severe mental health and/or family difficulties to participate in the Therapeutic Horse Program. Here they can learn about themselves and others in a safe, healthy, unique and experiential way.

Young Parents Support Network

Vancouver

The Young Parents Support will support a program for young parents (13-25) struggling with mental health issues. Through this project, they will create and enhance social ties and create community capacity by providing outreach services to ensure isolated and overwhelmed young parents who struggle with mental health issues are not alone and their children are not invisible and at risk. This includes offering support to isolated families; group programming in which youth can learn from each other as well as build relationships and a parenting education course designed for the lived experience of young parent families who spend significant time each week struggling to meet basic needs.

Arviat Youth Piliriqatigit/Hamlet of Arviat

Arviat, Nunavut

The Arviat Health Committee provides training in counselling to community caregivers and they are going to improve and change the focus of this training specifically for youth and their families. They will train 25 community members in the Wraparound process. The project will provide a vehicle for youth-to-youth counselling and support, a process for reengaging families in shared relationship healing /capacity building by using a process of bringing together whatever resources they have as a community and wrapping them around those in crisis. The training will build community resilience, confidence and a model for healing.

Canadian Mental Health Association

Peterborough

Bell's funding supports the Kids on the Block Program which is the organizations main vehicle for delivery of health promotion messages to elementary school-aged children. Since 1996 the Kids on the Block troupe has offered educational presentations about things such as children's mental health issues including depression, understanding feelings, school safety and children's experience of family break-up. The program is offered free of charge in schools, libraries, community events and other community spaces where children gather. The grant will allow the organization to offer the programming in Peterborough City and County, Northumberland, Clarington and most of the City of Kawartha Lakes and they expect to reach 7,000 children.

Community Addiction and Mental Health Service of Haldimand and Norfolk

Haldimand / Norfolk

The VOICE project provides participants at the community centre an opportunity to participate in a camera club, an art program and a music program - the fundamental premise of all three program components is to discover the 'ability in disability'. The grant will allow the organization to purchase additional art supplies including musical instruments for the 200 clients they serve.

Creative Works Studio

Toronto

Creative Works Studio (CWS) is an arts-based occupational therapy program which promotes healing and recovery for people suffering from serious mental illness. The studio is a part of St. Michael's Hospital's Inner City Health program and operates in partnership with the Good Shepherd Centres. Their project is to develop a multi-faceted arts-based outreach program-sharing the art, stories and music of our members expanding on prior work and existing infrastructure. The goal of this program is to reduce the stigma experienced by persons living with mental illness by sharing their stories. One of the main components for this project is the documentary film 'What's Art Got to Do with It', created by the members of the studio in collaboration with St. Michael's staff and professional camera person and editor.

Family Youth & Child Services of Muskoka

Muskoka

This grant will allow the organization to start up an open access walk in clinic for the Muskoka area.

Group Health Centre

Sault Saint Marie

The Group Health Centre (GHC) is a multi-specialty, interdisciplinary, ambulatory care facility located in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. GHC is implementing a new pilot project in the Children's Mental Health Program to improve access and efficiency for children's mental health services. The project pilot involves a new intake process, whereby children between the ages of 0-18 who are referred to the program are connected immediately to an intake worker who provides an initial assessment of the child's needs and refers them to the most appropriate member of the interdisciplinary team or other community resources.

National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC)

National

This grant will allow the expansion of NEDICs Helpline and Outreach program to ensure equal access across the country to their national toll-free Helpline. Service will be expanded to include 5 evenings a week from 5-9pm.

Providence Care

Kingston

The Bell grant will enable the VOCEC/Community Connections Recovery Program to engage professional artists to provide workshops to 45 community-based MH consumers (therapeutic) who in turn will present in a 10-day public arts festival in support of anti-stigma awareness.

Regional Eating Disorder Program at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Eastern Ontario / Western Québec

Bell's grant supports this organization's unique work in providing Psychoeducational training for parents with children on the wait list for formal evaluation.

Ryerson University Clinical Psychology Training Clinic /
St. Michael's Hospital Family Health Team Hospital or Medical Clinic

Toronto

This project will enhance access to mental health services for marginalized populations in Toronto. 12-14 Clinical Psychology Master's and PhD students will conduct psychological assessments, individual and group psychotherapy to patients of the Family Health Teams for free.

Sault College Student Services Department

Sault Ste Marie

The Sault College Student Services Department will improve their programming, by bringing a depression and stress reduction group with two additional certified counselors in Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).

Shooniya Wa-Biitong Training and Employment Centre for the Treaty No. 3 Area

Northern Ontario

The project will bring Treaty 3 mental health awareness training for frontline workers. The nonprofit employment and training center covers an area of 55,000 square miles of Northwestern Ontario and includes 23 First Nations in the Treaty #3 area and 5 urban centres - Kenora, Dryden, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, and Fort Frances. The project will also include a focus on training teachers to bring mental health awareness and support to youth in the regions.

The Ottawa Hospital Foundation

Ottawa

The Ottawa Hospital Foundation will bring a pilot perinatal program focused on young-women with the goal to improve adolescent mothers' access to mental health care. It is the only program of its kind in Canada.

University of Toronto - Health and Wellness, Student Life

Toronto

The goal of this project is to expand the university's mental health support program 'Of Another Mind'. They will introduce a new, more comprehensive strategy to raise awareness of mental health and mental illness; provide opportunities for education and learnings about mental health to student leaders, TAs, teachers and other faculty. The program provides face to face and online support, nurturing a community where students who struggle have improved access to care.

Victim Services of Grey, Bruce & Owen Sound

Owen Sound

The grant will support suicide prevention and education to community members. There is a huge need for a grief after suicide support in the Bruce and Grey County areas. Through this project, they will start 2 types of support groups - 1 for adults and 1 for teens in each of Bruce and Grey Counties.

Wabano Centre of Aboriginal Health

Ottawa

Located in one of Ottawa's poorest communities, the Wabano Centre provides non-residential mental health services to close to 1,000 clients annually. They will expand their youth mental health program bringing much needed access to programming in this community.

Waterloo Regional Suicide Prevention Council

Waterloo

The Waterloo Regional Suicide Prevention Council will provide suicide prevention training for family physicians in Waterloo region. 200 physicians will be trained which will expand this important community service in the Waterloo region.

Wilfrid Laurier University

Waterloo

Wilfrid Laurier University will introduce an expanded 5 step mental health project to students to support their mental health as they study and learn. Some of the project elements include a train the trainer program and Mental Health First Aid so that teachers, support staff and students can work together in supporting the needs of their community. The program will also offer students the opportunity to learn more about the stigma around mental illness and to promote awareness.

Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation

Windsor

As part of the overall rehabilitative focus of the Specialized Inpatient Mental Health Program, both a music therapy and horticulture therapy program will be welcome additions at the newly renovated Windsor Regional Hospital's mental health facilities.

For specific populations, such as geriatrics and/or dual diagnosis, music therapy will aide in increasing coordination, use of right brain/left brain, and range of motion.

The horticulture program will offer many benefits to mental health patients including; physical, emotional and social benefits. There are several emotional benefits that are offered through horticultural activities including increased independence, self-esteem and observational skills.

These programs will provide an opportunity to interact with others and develop cooperation and team building skills. Throughout the program patients will learn to deal with success and failure in a safe environment whereby they can learn and be inspired by others.

Canadian Mental Health Association

Manitoba

The Kaleidoscope-Wellness Through Creative Expression project produces a magazine that is distributed across Manitoba in 8 regions helping raise provincial awareness and reduce stigma of mental illness. The magazine creates an adaptive way for mental health consumers to express themselves through art aiding in the healing process and recovery.

Heartland Youth Centre

Stettler, Alberta

This grant will support their 'Talk it Out, Work it Out' - youth led program for 13-18 years olds that will increase awareness around open discussion of mental health issues they face.

Kerby Assembly

Calgary, Alberta

The Kerby Assembly will provide Mental Health First Aid to front line workers at the Centre which offers a variety of services for seniors in the community.

Red Deer Family Services Bureau

Red Deer, Alberta

The Red Deer Family Services Bureau will raise awareness of post partum depression among mothers, families and healthcare providers and make much needed resources readily available.

SupportWorks Incorporated

Calgary, Alberta

SupportWorks will expand its peer-led support groups for adults in Calgary living with depression, bipolar, anxiety and/or PTSD.

AMI-Québec Action on Mental Illness

Montréal

AMI-Québec will expand their counseling, education and support services with telehelp workshops for caregivers and mental health professionals, and outreach programs for schools and communities through videoconferences.

Café Rendez-vous de la Maison Réalité

Ottawa, Gatineau

Café Rendezvous de la Maison Realite focus on social support and will expand their educational and back-to-work programs by renovating the Café Rendez-vous kitchen to accommodate more participants and make the work environment safer.

Centre Accalmie

MRC d'Avignon, Pointe-à-la-Croix (Gaspésie)

This project will allow the Centre Accalmie to hire a new employee to give a prevention workshop on self-esteem.

Centre de crise de Québec

Québec City

The Centre, with help from the Bell fund, is going to improve access to information for people who require psychiatric help by updating and upgrading their Website Crisis intervention programming. This will improve access to their online support.

Centre d'hébergement alternatif de Sherbrooke (CHAS)

Sherbrooke

The project consists of improving health services and reducing stigmatization with a new gardening project that will be known as the 'Bell Garden.'

Fondation Équilibre Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

Saguenay

This project targeted at seniors will create an information toolbox compiling resources, services and literature in the area of seniors' mental health available to counselors and family members. The goal is to facilitate prevention and intervention with respect to seniors experiencing mental health problems.

Fondation Le Grand Chemin

Montréal, Québec, Saint Célestin

The project aims to help people by providing enhanced crisis intervention services for adolescents 12 to 17 years of age who struggle with addiction and other associated issues. The improved services will help ensure timely follow-up treatment in the foundation's three centres- Montréal, Ville de Québec and SaintCélestin.

Fondation Tel-Jeunes

Province-wide

The project enables services offered by Tel-Jeunes and LigneParents to be improved by providing mental health training to their 35 professional counsellors so they will be better equipped to respond to the growing number of calls concerning mental health problems.

Groupe de ressources pour le trouble de panique (GRTP)

Saguenay, Jonquière

The project will support youth (12-17) who have anxiety disorders. The organization will create a new intervention guide and set up workshops for young people suffering from mental illness disorders.

La Rencontre, groupe d'entraide pour personnes atteintes de maladie mentale

Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce

This organization provides social support for individuals experiencing mental health problems. The organization will improve accessibility to services by purchasing a vehicle that will be used to transport members, since most participants either do not have the means to own a car, live in rural areas or do not have access to public transit.

Le Mûrier

Montréal

This organization will put the Bell Fund to work to with its 'Let's cook together!' project. This is a new outreach program that involves going to participants' homes to teach them how to cook nutritious meals with what they have at home. Participants learn about proper nutrition and how to shop and budget for groceries.

Le Murmure, groupe d'entraide

Beauceville

The organization will promote awareness and public education and expand the Senti-Mentalités project, which was created in the fall of 2011 and has been very successful. Members and a spokesperson visit the region to educate the local population and businesses about the realities of people living with mental health problems.

Ligne d'intervention téléphonique en prévention du suicide
de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue

Malartic

The grant will support improved suicide and crisis intervention work of the organization. They will expand existing services by hiring a new counselor to respond more quickly to the numerous crisis line calls received during peak periods.

L'Équipe Entreprise

Dorval

L'Equipe Entreprise will hire a life coach to give new workshops to clients living with mental illness on self-esteem in addition to the back-to-work programs, including such topics as preparing healthy frozen meals, catering services and services for seniors.

quebec12-h4-15

Saint-Flavien

This project will enhance the work integration program in the community including a pre-hiring campaign designed for and geared to local businesses. The goal is to identify local businesses who can offer jobs to participants living with and recovering from mental health illnesses.

Parents et amis du bien-être mental du sud-ouest de Montréal

Verdun

The Bell fund will support this organization's important work by adding new services and workshops to address the needs of youth with anxiety disorders living in foster homes or group homes.

Réseau de Prévention Suicide des Bois-Francs

Plessisville

Creation of a « Sentinelles » network in 30 rural villages out of the 35 rural villages served by this organisation - these Sentinelles will be volunteers in their communities on the lookout for referring people who would have suicidal ideas – referring them to the best local resources to help them seek assistance.

2011 Recipients

Eating Disorder Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland

Project to fund an awareness campaign on early detection and intervention, as well as a community speaker's bureau that will compliment the campaign. The awareness campaign involves the creation, printing, and delivery of an information package that would be delivered to 2300 doctors and dentist's throughout Newfoundland. The goal is to better inform and educate front line health professionals about eating disorders. The Foundation of NL is relatively new and is currently the only resource for patients and families dealing with eating disorders in the province.

Health PEI, Primary Care Division

Charlottetown, PEI

The training is intended to expand access to enhanced mental health care, provide tools for earlier intervention and support opportunities for improved collaborative mental health care throughout the Province. The training session would be offered to 100 practitioners from primary care, mental health and addictions throughout PEI. Cognitive Behavioral Interpersonal Skills (CBIS) provides assessment and skills based interventions, using a modified cognitive behavioral therapy approach, demonstrated to be an efficient method for treating depression and anxiety. This project will train 100 front-line workers in the field of early invention and treatment in the area of depression and anxiety.

Laing House

Halifax, NS

Empowering youth living with mental illness through innovative engagement and peer support. Participants will be trained and provided with the support necessary to enter the workforce and to learn about fighting stigmas and stereotypes.

MindCare New Brunswick

New Brunswick (Province-wide)

The College will train approximately 6 Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) facilitators so they can teach MHFA to both the college community and the community at large.

BC Schizophrenia Society - Penticton Branch

South Okanagan

This grant will provide a family support, mental health worker to rural communities in Oliver, Osoyoos, Keremeos and Princeton on a monthly basis. Previous access would have been through the Penticton hospital.

Bipolar Disorder Society of British Columbia

Greater Victoria

Expansion of the Stigma Stomp program including the development of an interactive website, www.bipolarbabe.com, to target 14 schools reaching a total of 1500 students in 2011/2012. Grades 7-12.

British Columbia Council for Families

Province-wide

Left2Live Suicide Postvention workshop. Also includes outreach to Aboriginal communities.

Cameray Child and Family Services

Burnaby

Expansion of the current child and youth mental heath conselling program.

Columbian Centre Society

Vancouver

Development of a strategic plan to expand affordable supported housing for people with severe and persistent mental illnesses with emphasis on seniors.

Crisis Line Association of B.C.

Province-wide

This project will support the delivery of training, promotions and integrating the Aboriginal-specific data into their Provincial Data Collection Tool. Launching the service will begin as funding is secured. This volunteer-based provincial suicide line is based on international better practice and is the first of its kind in Canada. It is now being replicated in other provinces such as Alberta, Ontario and Manitoba.

Green Thumb Theatre

Province-wide

Production of 'People Like Vince', a new theatrical production to fight the stigma of mental illness. This acclaimed theatre company company will travel to 10,000 elementary students in BC.

McCreary Centre Society

Fraser Valley (lower BC)

Two workshops focused on youth ages 13-19 who have demonstrated mental health challenges.

The Kettle Friendship Society

Vancouver

Working with our partner Common Threads Co-operative, The Kettle will train primarily women (self selected) in both elementary and advanced industrial sewing skills. These skills will give mental health consumers access to paid employment, either through the Co-operative or in the marketplace. These jobs will lead to increased self-esteem, health benefits due to extra income and added respect from the larger community as they see the success of the women and the products they produce.

Health & Social Services - Mental Health & Wellness Division

Nunavut (territory-wide)

Training opportunities in Nunavut are limited due to the geographic size and cost of transportation. This proposal reflects an opportunity to expand the knowledge of frontline mental health and wellness staff to better meet the needs of Nunavut. The territory is currently in a growth stage and offering this professional development opportunity would enhance the quality of mental health, concurrent and addictions services and programs. The focus of this project is to provide a one week professional development training course for our front-line psychiatric nurses and mental health workers. A training faciliator stationed in Cambridge Bay will train staff who will travel from their communities to participate in the training at the Cambridge Bay Wellness Centre. 15 front-line staff will be trained and they will be able to support a minimum of 8 communities in Nunavut.

Canadian Mental Health Association Hastings and Prince Edward Branch

Belleville

CMHA Hastings and Prince Edward County Branch is working with 'The Jack Project' and connecting with the local college to develop mental health First Aid support and to raise awareness and reduce youth suicide. The mission of The Jack Project is to support youth as they transition from late high school into their years of college, university or independent living, helping them to achieve and sustain their optimal mental health. They also will develop an online counselling and support system that includes interlinking key youth-oriented and youth-servicing partners together in a coordinated online support system to pioneer e-mental health technologies in Canada.

Community Support Centre Essex County

Windsor-Essex County

Access to care will be increased by providing transportation, mental health services, social dining and home maintenance. All services are aimed at increasing access to home bound and isolated seniors who make up a large percentage of suicide rates and are prone to depression. They are aiming to expand the reach of programming into new geographic territory so they can serve an additional 77,000 community members.

Haliburton Highlands Health Services

Toronto

Will take expressive arts to 30 plus seniors identified as depressed, in two long term care homes in our community. Each senior will receive twenty, one-on-one sessions lasting 1-2 hours. There will also be small activity groups delivered by a trained, Registered Expressive Arts Practitioner. Expressive arts includes: visual art, poetry/storytelling, sculpture, mixed media, fibre & photo art, and movement /music as a means of authentic expression, communication and the realization of potential.

Harmony for Youth

Sarnia

The program goal is to bring mental health awareness to the community, and provide resources to help reduce the number of teen suicides. We also offer two counselling programs at no cost. One program is a suicide bereavement program for youth, and the other is targeted at adults.

Hope's Garden

London

The Healing through Hope Project includes the implementation of two new support groups: A young adult support group for those 18-24 who are experiencing any disordered eating thoughts or behaviours. A support group for those 35-55 that addresses the growing number of adults experiencing eating disorders and body image despair during later stages of life (biological changes effecting one's body image, sense of self).

Kirkland and District Hospital

Kirkland Lake

They will open a mental health library that inpatients, staff, family memebers and our community partners could access. The goal would be to provide education about mental health and therefore assist in reducing the stigma that is often associated with mental illness.

Lakehead University

Thunder Bay

The clinic will serve students and the public and will provide job placements for professionals in field. First Nation community members will have access to increased mental health services.

London and District Distress Centre

London

The organization needs a new phone system to continue to build capacity of the distress line service with expanding support to the front-line volunteers who listen to individuals who call the distress line. Almost 18,000 calls were received in 2010 and 62% of callers have a diagnosed mental illness or a mental health concern. The majority of callers feel isolated or marginalized by the community, and 4% of calls are suicide related (prevention, intervention or post-vention).

Nipissing First Nation Health Services

Nipissing

The Tree of Life Project is an awareness and support campaign on the issue of suicide that is intended to reduce stigma and improve access to community mental health resources. Information, education and support using both western and Indigenous knowledge on the issues of grief, loss, embracing life, mood disorders, addictions and colonialism as they relate to high rates of suicide for Indigenous people will be the central components to this project. The Tree of Life project will begin with a grief support group geared to all community members of Nipissing First Nation that will acknowledge losses in the community while learning about the impacts of grief on one's mental health.

Oak Park Neighborhood Centre

Oakville

They will add a monthly parent support group and additional weekly one on one support. 'Fun Friends' program for children to better handle anxiety, fear and depression. Teaches practical, useful strategies for coping with stress, anxiety, worry, fear to build emotional resilience and self-esteem.

SKETCH Working Arts for Street Involved and Homeless Youth

Toronto

This program aims to address youth mental health issues through a formalized system of counselling and referrals. New counselling component will focus on resource awareness and referrals to immediate care. Project will involve arts-based activities designed to help youth realize self-potential, build life skills, leadership skills, resiliency and self-esteem while reducing stigma of mental illness. 275 youth with mental health issues over a one-year period will have been involved in creative art-making activities allowing them to gain community connections, leadership and organizational skills.

The Boys and Girls Club of York Region - a program of Social Enterprise for Canada

Newmarket

The goal of this project is to provide an Expressive Arts program to youth. The target youth for this project are isolated from participation in extra curricular activities due to the lack of existing social infrastructure within the community. The goal of this project is to provide opportunities for these youth to participate in activiities that will provide an outlet for the stresses related to settlement, immigration and poverty. Participants will build resliliency, informal support networks and reduce the likelihood of the development of mental health issues, or mitigate its impacts.

The Nicholas Knapp Kindness Fund

London

Our organization is availabe to the survivors of suicide, families, friends and co-workers who support them and provide comfort. We listen and provide resources through networking, websites, booklets and our survivors network to lend a helping hand to families trying to cope with the loss of a loved one.

The Psychology Foundation of Canada

National

The goal is to develop, pilot and evaluate strategies, supports, services and a process that builds both community capacity and the service system capacity to meet mental health-related needs of newcomer families. With further funding, they will be able to extend their work across the Toronto region. In the proposed Toronto region project (DIAT) they will work with 2 or 3 newcomer communities, starting projects as funds become available, and continuing until the work is properly embedded.

Youth Services Bureau

Ottawa

Their walk-in mental health clinic opened in January 2011 one-day a week to overwhelming response. They will extend hours of the walk-in clinic up to three days per week and will need to promote the service. They would specifically like to increase access to mental health services to youth and families through a new Youth Mental Health Walk-In Clinic. Only clinic of its kind in Eastern Ontario.

BodyWhys Youth Canada

AB, MB, SK and BC

BodyWhys is focused on providing education and awareness to youth on eating disorders and self harm. Lead by world record holder Meaghan Buisson, who has battled an eating disorder herself, the project will provide national online resources including 30 new interactive workshops. Workshops will be provided in a 60:40 rural/urban split. An estimated 7,500 Canadians will be impacted.

Calgary Counselling Centre

Calgary

The Calgary Counselling Centre is moving towards becoming THE organization of choice for Calgarians facing depression. This funding is part of the larger overall Centre funding and will be used to support provision of services as well as research.

Schizophrenia Society of Alberta

Alberta

Funding will be used to create provincial standardization of core programming. This includes development of program evaluation tools, methods of recording data, training materials and promotional materials and will increase the capacity to serve those dealing with Schizophrenia and their families.

The Support Network

Edmonton

The Support Network is the crisis phone line for North Central Alberta. This funding will support the expansion of the current rural distress line into a minimum of 7 new rural communities.

Town of Cochrane, Family & Community Support Services

Cochrane

This is a rural focused project which encompasses the Town of Cochrane and surrounding area, including a native reservation. This collaborative project is in cooperation with Alberta Health Services, the Youth Association, Mental Health and the Community Resource Centre. The grant will be used to fund staff and provide programming for people with mental illness in the areas of support, training and life skills in a nonclinical setting - a community kitchen.

Anorexie et boulimie Québec

Montréal

They provide a help and referral line for people suffering from anorexia and bulimia. Their help line hours are from 8:00am to midnight. Bell's funding would enable ABQ to add a new shift to the current schedule from midnight to 3:00am.

Expression LaSalle, centre communautaire en santé mentale

Montréal

The project will help individuals who have experienced the trauma of childhood sexual abuse and incest. The project will consist of (1) Assessments (intake interviews) that provide an introduction to the Centre, as well as to help to determine if the specific service is appropriate for a person's needs; (2) Two creative arts therapy (art or drama therapy) groups on the theme of sexual abuse; (3) Ten individual therapy/counselling sessions that provide an opportunity for a participant to explore, in greater depth, issues that are too difficult to look at in a group setting, or that require more time than is available in a group.

La Croisée des sentiers

Asbestos

The project will allow people living in this remote region to experience a socio-professional integration experience either with work, volunteering, or school. Most of the partners needed to implement the project are in place (CSSS des Sources, Des Sommerts School Commission, Emploi Québec, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and a local job placement agency) but funding is needed to hire a staff resource to put all the components into place and to manage the project and participants.

La Fondation de l'Hôpital général juif

Montréal

Follow up program for children who have been hospitalized in the psychiatry department for 6-12 months to maintain progress in their recovery.

La Fondation Pierre-Janet

Gatineau

Funding would help young adults that have not had a chance to pursue a career because of mental health obstacles and treatment to obtain a bursary and go back to school to acquire the knowledge and skills to become productive and active citizens. The project would also contribute to reducing the stigma around people with a mental health problem. Individual education bursaries would vary depending on individual needs assessments.

La Fondation Robert-Giffard

Québec City

The project aims to avoid relapses to emergency services and/or to reduce the stay in a hospital for people suffering from psychotic problems when they experience a mental relapse. The team provides specialised home care treament in the clients' everyday surroundings so that they feel safe and are more empowered to recover in their own surroundings/normal environment. This project will also help reduce health care costs and reduce stigma.

La Fondation Suicide Action Montréal

Montréal

The project consists of three main components: 1) the production of suicide prevention and dependency awareness video capsules; 2) crisis intervention using new technologies, and 3) on-line counsellor training sessions. SAM would use the Bell grant for the video capsules component. The capsules would be integrated on the web site as well as on partner sites and would cover topics related to suicide prevention and messages of hope used for suicide prevention.

La Société québécoise de la schizophrénie

Montréal

Their new web site was launched in January 2011 and they want to enhance it by digitising their documentation library and including it on the site, posting monthly conferences on the video zone section, and offering an exchange forum for people living with schizophrenia and their family members.

Le Centre de prévention du suicide de Québec

Québec City

The project is to train a network of 'Sentinelles' in the region of Québec and Chaudière-Appalaches. 'Sentinelles' are adult volunteers trained to detect psychological distress and to be knowledgeable about suicide prevention in order to help people in their immediate surroundings and to orient them to the appropriate resources.

Le Centre de santé et de services sociaux de la Vallée-de-l'Or

Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Western Quebec)

Offer a new music workshop as Art therapy to help individuals suffering with a mental health problem. The project aims to integrate social participation by establishing a common link between participants, the community and musical activity.

Le Pavois de Ste-Foy

Québec City

Project is to hire a mental health counsellor to work with members at the Pavois to help other patients in their recovery while drawing from their own life experiences. The counsellor would work 3 days/week and accompany other patients that are undergoing treatment and counselling.

Le Trait d'Union Montérégien

Saint-Hyacinthe

Volunteer recruitment event for organisation's 20th anniversary. The project hopes to reduce the number of people on a waiting list from 48 to a maximum of 15 people, double the number of volunteers and reach 3000 people via conferences and recruitment activities.

Le Traversier, Centre de jour et d'entraide en santé mentale

Trois-Rivières

The project will offer people that hear voices the possibility to participate, on a weekly basis, in a training and support group called 'Living well with my voices'. It's a project that was started in 2007 by the Pavois in Quebec City in collabration with PECH and the University of Laval.

Les Impatients

Granby

The project consists of expanding the Art therapy workshops to Granby (Estrie region) in collaboration with other partners including Suivi intensif dans le milieu (SIM), Val-des-Cerfs School Commission, and the Granby Hospital. The program has seen a lot of success by being able to integrate people with a mental health problem into society and create social economic and cultural links in addition to contributing to removing the stigma around mental health.

Revivre

Montréal

They will hire a web master/social network expert to improve access to information and encourage discussion via the internet. The web site is made up of a help line with information and referral section and an open discussion forum that needs to be further developed and maintained. The project will greatly contribute to reducing stigma as well as breaking the silence and isolation of people suffering with anxiety disorders, depression, and bipolar mental health problems.