Support for Bell Let’s Talk Day and the mental health cause reaches new highs

Support for Bell Let’s Talk Day and the mental health cause reaches new highs

• Tweets, calls, texts and Facebook shares drive Bell’s donations to mental health
• #BellLetsTalk again the top Twitter trend in Canada – and now #1 worldwide!
• Canadians everywhere, politicians, sports figures, entertainers all lending their support
• Learn more at Bell.ca/LetsTalk – including the 5 simple ways we can all fight the stigma around mental illness

MONTRÉAL, January 28, 2015 – On the 5th annual Bell Let’s Talk Day, more Canadians than ever before are supporting the fight for a Canada free of stigma around mental illness – and there’s plenty of time left for you to help drive Bell’s donations to mental health today.

By noon eastern time, Canadians had already engaged in a total of 30.73 million interactions – calls, tweets, texts and Facebook shares – in support of the Bell Let’s Talk message. That’s 17% more than at the same time last year. By 3 pm eastern, the total was nearing 60 million messages. With a Bell donation of 5 cents for each, that’s equivalent to approximately $3 million more in new funding for Canadian mental health.

“Wow Canada! Your support for the cause has grown by leaps and bounds every year since we launched the Bell Let’s Talk initiative in 2010. But this level of support and engagement in the mental health conversation is truly incredible!” said Clara Hughes, Canada’s 6-time Olympic medalist and national spokesperson for Bell Let’s Talk. “Bell Let’s Talk Day is far from over, so we have the chance to take it even further. What better way to show that we we all believe in a stigma-free Canada than by keeping those messages of support rolling in!”

• Last year, Bell Let’s Talk was the top Twitter trend in Canada and #3 worldwide – this year, you’ve made the cause the #1 trend worldwide; in fact, the total number of Bell Let’s Talk tweets has more than doubled year over year.
• Governor General David Johnston and Canadian leaders everywhere have tweeted and texted their support – including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Cabinet Ministers, Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and MPs from all parties, all 13 provincial and territorial leaders, mayors and other politicians across the country.
• More than twice as many people had visited the Bell Let’s Talk website already compared to last year.
• Pro sports players and organizations across Canada and the U.S. are behind the cause, including Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Mike Fisher, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, the NHLPA, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Argonauts, Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto FC, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies, Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Whitecaps.
• Celebrities tweeting their support already today include longtime Bell Let’s Talk supporter William Shatner and André Ducharme, Arkells, Bryan Adams, Chris Hadfield, Dan Bigras, Dany Turcotte, Donnie Wahlberg, Down With Webster, Elisha Cuthbert, Eric Salvail, Fall Out Boy, Hedley, Jann Arden, Joel Legendre, k.d. lang, Kevin O’Leary, Kim Cattrall, Les Grandes Gueules, Lights , Marianas Trench, Mario Tessier, Mother Mother, Nathan Fillion, Nelly Furtado, Sarah McLachlan, Serena Ryder, Sophia Bush, Theo Fleury, The Tragically Hip, Trailer Park Boys and Véronique Bannon.
• Bell competitors Rogers, Telus, Vidéotron and Wind Mobile have all tweeted their support. Thank you!

**It’s easy to join the conversation ** Today, for every text message, wireless and long distance call made by Bell Canada and Bell Aliant customers, every tweet using #BellLetsTalk, and every Facebook share of the Bell Let’s Talk Day image at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk, Bell will donate 5 cents more to Canadian mental health programs.

In 2014, Canadians answered the call with a total of 109,451,718 messages including texts, wireless and long distance calls, tweets and Facebook shares, meaning Bell added another $5,472,585.90 to its Bell Let’s Talk funding commitment. Based on its original $50 million donation and the results of the last 4 Bell Let’s Talk Days, Bell has now committed more than $67.5 million to Canadian mental health.

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.

5 simple ways to help end the stigma We can all help end the stigma around mental illness with these 5 simple ways:

• Language matters – pay attention to the words you use about mental illness
• Educate yourself – learn, know and talk more, understand the signs
• Be kind – small acts of kindness say a lot
• Listen and ask – sometimes it’s best to just listen
• Talk about it – start a dialogue, break the silence

The 2015 Bell Let’s Talk team This year, TSN host Michael Landsberg, comedian Howie Mandel and entertainer Mary Walsh join Clara and Québec spokespeople Stefie Shock and Michel Mpambara in the Bell Let’s Talk campaign.

The long-time host of TSN’s Off The Record, Michael Landsberg is a renowned advocate for mental health. Howie Mandel is the internationally known comedian, actor and TV host. Mary Walsh is a social activist, comedian and actor whose work includes the iconic news satire show This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

A new ambassador, professional golfer Andrew Jensen, has also joined comedian and writer Kevin Breel, CFL veteran Shea Emry and musician Robb Nash to share personal stories and encourage Canadians to get engaged in the conversation.

“Thank you to the amazing Bell Let’s Talk team for helping to spread the mental health message. Together, we’re working to end the stigma and make mental health part of our everyday conversations,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk.

Bell Let’s Talk Day Events

Bell Let’s Talk and Cisco host nationwide student TelePresence event Today, Clara Hughes and Michel Mpambara led live interactive webcasts linking schools nationwide to encourage youth to talk about mental health. In Toronto, Clara was joined by Michael Landsberg and Kevin Breel. Joining Michel in Montreal were Alex Genest, Josiane Babin of the Montreal Mental Illness Foundation’s Partners for Life program, and NRJ radio and television host Anais Favron, who moderated the event.

CLARA’S BIG RIDE documentary on CTV and CraveTV Airing in primetime tonight on CTV and CTV Two, CLARA’S BIG RIDE is a powerful documentary chronicling 6-time Olympic medalist and Bell Let’s Talk national spokesperson Clara Hughes’ epic 110-day bicycle journey to help build a Canada free of the stigma of mental illness. CLARA’S BIG RIDE will be available all day on CraveTV and CTV.ca, before airing at 7:00 pm ET/PT in super-simulcast on CTV and CTV Two and live-streamed on CTV GO.

Bell Media is marking the 5th annual Bell Let’s Talk Day with more than 50 hours of special mental health-themed programming that will air across its properties, including CTV, CTV Two, BNN, CP24, CTV News Channel, Discovery, E!, M3, Much, MTV, RDS, Space, TSN, CraveTV, and TheLoop.ca, as well as Bell Media digital, radio, and local TV platforms throughout the day.

To learn more about Bell Media’s special Bell Let’s Talk Day programming, please visit http://bmpr.ca/15PewCc.

Toronto Raptors game in support of Bell Let’s Talk Tonight, Clara will attend the Toronto Raptors game. To celebrate Bell Let’s Talk Day, the first 10,000 fans who arrive at the game will receive Bell Let’s Talk toques and fans will be encouraged to continue the conversation about mental health by calling, texting and tweeting.

Canadian Armed Forces mental health awareness event Bell Let’s Talk ambassador Andrew Jensen participated in a panel discussion about mental health at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa from 11 to 11 30 am.

Tomorrow night, Clara will join the Ottawa Senators and the Dallas Stars at centre ice for the ceremonial puck drop during the Bell Hockey Talks mental health in support of D.I.F.D (Do It For Daron) game at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa (TSN, 7 pm ET). Fans will receive Bell Let’s Talk and D.I.F.D mittens when they arrive at the game.

To learn more about Bell Let’s Talk and how to join the conversation, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative Bell Let’s Talk promotes mental health based on 4 action pillars – anti-stigma, care and access, research, and workplace best practices. The initiative supports mental health leaders across the country including the Royal Ottawa Hospital, Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Hôpital Charles-LeMoyne, Montreal Jewish Hospital, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the University of British Columbia, the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Queen’s University, La Fondation du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec, Concordia University, Brain Canada, Kids Help Phone, Sunnybrook Hospital, Université Laval Foundation, CHU Sainte-Justine and Vancouver General Hospital.

Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund The annual Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund supports organizations in Canada focused on improving access to programs and services that support and help improve the mental health and wellbeing of people living with mental health issues from coast to coast to coast with grants in the range of $5,000 to $50,000. Applications are now being accepted for the 2015 Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund. The 2015 application period is open until March 31 and all 2015 Fund grants will be disbursed before December 31, 2015.

To apply for 2015 funding, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

About Bell Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and business customers with wireless, TV, Internet, home phone and business communications services. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, out of home and digital media. Bell is wholly owned by Montréal's BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For more information, please visit bell.ca.

Media inquiries:

Jacqueline Michelis Bell Media Relations 613 785-1427 jacqueline.michelis@bell.ca @Bell_News