Bell applauds release of national standard for mental health in the workplace

• Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace supports mental health best practices at Canadian corporations and other organizations
• New standard developed with the support of health care leaders, government, labour and corporations, including a $250,000 contribution from the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative

MONTREAL, Jan. 16, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today announced its support of the new national Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace standard, developed by CSA Group and Bureau de normalisation du Québec in collaboration with the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Development of the voluntary standard was supported by funding from Bell, the Government of Canada, and the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace.

The first of its kind in the world, the standard offers guidance to Canadian businesses and other organizations in addressing mental health and mental illness in the workplace. With 500,000 Canadians missing work each day because of a mental illness, the impact in lost labour-market participation was an estimated $20.7 billion in 2012 alone.

"A cooperative effort between health care experts, government, labour and corporations, this unique new standard will support and promote mental health in the workplace and the broader community," said George Cope, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE. "As part of the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative, we are dedicated to implementing programs and practices that support the mental health of all Bell team members, and to working with other Canadian organizations in the development of their own mental health programs."

Bell has undertaken a number of initiatives to foster a psychologically healthy and safe work environment, including mental health training for all Bell managers and an innovative return-to-work program for team members affected by mental illness.

"Bell looks forward to integrating the national standard for psychological health and safety into our extensive workplace mental health approach," said Mary Deacon, Chair of the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative. "Workplace support is essential to good mental health, and we encourage all Canadian corporations to embrace this voluntary standard as part of their own mental health initiatives."

Bell Let's Talk is a 5-year, $50-million program to promote Canadian mental health based on 4 action pillars: anti-stigma, care and access, research, and workplace best practices. With Bell Let's Talk Day as its anti-stigma centrepiece, Bell's initiative is providing significant funding for leading mental health hospitals and grassroots organizations, driving new workplace initiatives across corporate Canada, and supporting new research.

Bell Let's Talk Day is February 12
For every text message or long distance call made by Bell and Bell Aliant customers and every tweet using #BellLetsTalk and every Facebook share of our Bell Let's Talk message on February 12, Bell will donate 5 cents more to mental health programs (regular long distance and text charges apply). In 2012, 78 million text messages, long distance calls and retweets by 8 million Canadians on Bell Let's Talk Day resulted in $3,926,014.20 in additional funding for mental health.

About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and business with solutions to all their communications needs: Bell Mobility wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell Satellite TV and Bell Fibe TV, Bell Home Phone local and long distance, and Bell Business Markets IP-broadband and information and communications technology (ICT) services. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital media, including CTV, Canada's #1 television network, and the country's most-watched specialty channels. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For Bell products and services, please visit Bell.ca. For BCE corporate information, please visit BCE.ca.

Image with caption: "From right to left: George Cope, President and CEO, BCE and Bell Canada, Dr. David Goldbloom, Chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Senior Medical Advisor, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Louise Bradley, President & CEO, Mental Health Commission of Canada, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Labour, Kenneth Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress and Michael Nixon, Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations, Chamber of Commerce at the launch of the new national Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace standard in Toronto on January 16, 2013 (CNW Group/Bell Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130116_C6242_PHOTO_EN_22635.jpg

SOURCE: Bell Canada

Jacqueline Michelis
Bell Media Relations
1 855 785-1427
[email protected]
@Bell_News