If you are in crisis, please go to your local hospital or call 911 immediately.
Thank you!
On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Canadians and people around the world joined in to help create positive change for people living with mental health issues. Thanks to the 159,173,435 interactions, Bell will donate more to Canadian mental health initiatives.
$1 million fund for colleges and universities to accelerate implementation of the National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students.
Maintaining good mental and physical health during the COVID-19 situation will help ensure Canadians get through this together. Connect to tips and online resources from our partners to support and help manage your mental health through this difficult time.
5 simple ways to end the stigma and start a conversation
Stigma can often prevent those struggling with a mental illness from seeking the help they need. Developed in partnership with Dr. Heather Stuart, the Bell Canada Mental Health and Anti-stigma Research Chair at Queen's University, here are 5 simple ways to help end the stigma and initiate a conversation.
Your words matter
The words you use can make all the difference. Words can help, but they can also hurt. What would you choose?
Schizo
Crazy
Person with schizophrenia
Person with a mental illness
Did you know?
When it comes to mental illness, education is key. Having the right tools, knowing the right words to use and understanding how to correctly speak with someone experiencing a mental illness can make all the difference. View the Bell Let’s Talk Toolkit
Kindness is key
Simple kindness can make a world of a difference. Whether it be a smile, being a good listener or an invitation for a chat over coffee, these simple acts of kindness can help open up the conversation and let someone know you’re there for them.
Expressions like “You’ll get over it” and “Just relax” can hurt more than help. Instead, offer your support and say “I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well” or better yet, ask what you can do to help.
Your presence is all it takes
Mental illness is a very common form of human pain and suffering. Being a good listener and asking how you can help or simply just being there for people you care about can be the first step to recovery.
Here are a few examples of what to ask:
I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well.
I’ve noticed you’ve been down lately. Is everything OK?
How can I help?
Break the silence
Two out of three people suffer in silence, fearing judgement and rejection. Being open to a conversation is the first step towards eliminating the stigma.
Know the facts, be kind, be a good listener and a friend. Be part of the conversation to eliminate the stigma once and for all.
“In the last year alone, Bell has fueled over 4 million connections with young people across this country reaching out to Kids Help Phone. Thanks to Bell’s commitment for over 30 years, we’re there for young people 24/7, even at 2 in the morning.”
Katherine Hay, President & CEO, Kids Help Phone
“Thanks to the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant, Katimavik has provided 90 youth across 6 provinces with SafeTALK, Mental Health First Aid and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), enabling them to identify and intervene with people at risk within their communities. We appreciate the leadership of Bell Let’s Talk in empowering organizations such as ours to address mental health challenges among our youth participants.”
John-Frederick Cameron, CEO, Katimavik
“With Bell Let’s Talk’s generous gift of $1 million and matched government funding, Strongest Families Institute has helped more than 2,000 additional children, youth and families in Atlantic Canada.”
Dr. Patricia Lingley-Pottie, President & CEO, Strongest Families Institute
“CMHA Yukon’s Peer Support Training Project has enhanced and fostered incredible relationships amongst 350 volunteers, clients and stakeholders thanks to our Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant.”
Tiffanie Tasane, Executive Director, CMHA Yukon
“Lateral empathy has helped us cope with COVID-19 and the need for support exponentially. OPK has responded to that demand based on this teaching, supporting 2,691 participants, thanks to support from Bell Let’s Talk.”
Bell Let’s Talk today announced it is now accepting applications for Implementation Grants through the 2021 Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund. This annual $1 million program supports colleges and universities that are using the National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students to identify specific gaps or needs in their mental health support services and are building new initiatives to address them.
United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern NB region (GMSENB), with the Bell-Graham Boeckh Foundation (GBF) Partnership and the New Brunswick Government Department of Health, Addictions and Mental Health Branch, is pleased to announce the launch of Regional Strategic Coordinators in Kent County and Miramichi.
Bell Let’s Talk today announced $750,000 in new grants from the Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund to 6 more organizations working to improve access to mental health care for members of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) communities in Canada.
Rise, which provides individuals experiencing mental health and addiction challenges with access to low-interest loans to help launch new businesses, today announced a five-year, $1 million gift from Bell Let’s Talk to build more local small businesses and empower Canadians affected by mental illness and addictions towards greater social and economic well-being.
