Are you ready for January 25? Join the conversation on Bell Let's Talk Day and help keep Canada's mental health moving forward!

• New Bell Let's Talk Day promotions featuring Clara Hughes and team start today
• Clara and team hit the road to announce new Bell Let's Talk programs in 6 communities
• Get engaged in Bell Let's Talk Day by talking, texting and joining the conversation on social media – now including Instagram and Snapchat – on January 25
• Enhanced Bell.ca/LetsTalk website features new tools and resources

MONTRÉAL, Jan. 9, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - The 2017 Bell Let's Talk campaign moves to its next phase today with all-new TV and radio spots encouraging everyone to join the conversation on Bell Let's Talk Day, January 25.

The new ads feature national spokesperson Clara Hughes asking fellow Bell Let's Talk team members Étienne Boulay, Marie-Soleil Dion, Michael Landsberg, Howie Mandel, Michel Mpambara, Stefie Shock and Mary Walsh if they're ready for January 25 -- and asking everyone across Canada to prepare to get engaged by talking, texting and joining the conversation on social media.

"The momentum in Canadian mental health we've all created together is truly incredible. But the stories of struggle we hear every day also make it clear that we have so much more to do. Let's all get ready to roll on January 25 with the messages of support that show mental health is on everyone's mind," said Clara, Canada's 6-time Olympic medalist and Bell Let's Talk spokesperson since the launch of the initiative in 2010. "Talking about mental illness has helped to reduce the stigma around this critical national health concern and resulted in real action in research, workplace mental health and access to care. Remember, your calls, texts and social media messages on January 25 will drive Bell's funding of mental health programs all year round, at no added cost to you. Let's get ready to talk!"

The first phase of the Bell Let's Talk Day 2017 campaign began December 26 with promotional spots on multiple TV networks, online and out of home, and in Cineplex and Guzzo theatres and at Hot Docs. All of this year's campaign videos can be found on the enhanced Bell.ca/LetsTalk website along with improved new tools and resources to help your own mental health conversation.

Bell Let's Talk team visits 6 Canadian communities in January

Clara, Bell Let's Talk Chair Mary Deacon and other members of the team are on the road in the lead up to Bell Let's Talk Day, discussing initiatives that improve mental health access for youth, indigenous people and military veterans in 6 Canadian communities.

Fort McMurray - January 16
Clara, Mary and Séan McCann visit students at École McTavish Junior High Public School.

Iqaluit - January 18
Clara, Mary and Northwestel CEO Paul Flaherty visit Inuksuk High School.

Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Montréal - January 19
Clara and Michel Mpambara visit Montréal's Ste. Anne's Hospital, a long-term health care facility that provides services for Canadian Forces veterans.

Halifax - January 20
Clara and Andrew Jensen visit Laing House, a peer support organization for youth with mental illness.

Ottawa - January 23
Clara, Mary Walsh and Mary Deacon visit Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, which provides mental health programs supporting indigenous youth.

Kingston - January 24
Clara, Mary Deacon and Dr. Heather Stuart, Bell Canada Mental Health and Anti-Stigma Research Chair, will be at Grant Hall at Queen's University to discuss the fight against the lingering stigma around mental illness.

"We're all really looking forward to visiting the communities large and small where Bell Let's Talk has had a direct and positive impact and to announcing new programs that support Canadians from all walks of life," said Mary Deacon. "A critical factor in the initiative's success has been the mental health work being undertaken at the community level. We're eager to highlight that progress and help take it further."

Join the conversation and drive Bell's funding of mental health
On January 25, Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for each of these interactions made that day:

• Every text message, mobile call and long distance call made by Bell Canada and Bell Aliant customers
• Every tweet using #BellLetsTalk
• Every view of the Bell Let's Talk Day video on Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk
• Every Instagram post using #BellLetsTalk
• Every use of the Bell Let's Talk geofilter on Snapchat

Bell's donations are made at no extra charge to Bell Let's Talk Day participants. Normal long distance or text charges, if any, apply.

Bell Let's Talk Day 2016 set new records with 125.9 million messages of support, growing Bell's funding for Canadian mental health by $6,295,764.75. #BellLetsTalk was the #1 Twitter hashtag in Canada for all of 2016, and the most used in the world on Bell Let's Talk Day 2016.

With its original anchor donation of $50 million and the results of the first 6 Bell Let's Talk Days, Bell's total commitment to mental health now stands at $79,919,178.55, and is expected to surpass $100 million in 2020.

5 simple ways to help end the stigma
You can help end the stigma around mental illness with 5 simple ways developed by Dr. Heather Stuart, the Bell Mental Health and Anti-Stigma Research Chair at Queen's University:

• 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 speak a lot
• Listen and ask – sometimes it's best to just listen
• Talk about it – start a dialogue, break the silence

To learn more, 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
[phone]
[email protected]
@Bell_News

SOURCE Bell Canada

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