Bell Media Fuels the Conversation About Mental Health in Support of Bell Let's Talk Day, Feb. 8

- Bell Let's Talk Day national ambassadorOlympian Clara Hughes discusses her battle with depression throughout the day on various Bell Media properties -
- Extensive programming with a focus on mental health to air across Bell Media properties -
- Exclusive, new MuchMusic special DEMI LOVATO: UNBROKEN premieres as well as the CTV original documentary DARKNESS AND HOPE: DEPRESSION, SPORTS AND ME -
- Canadians can get in on the conversation online at CTV.ca, CTVNews.ca, CP24.com, and on Twitter @Bell_LetsTalk -

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/yBAwyX

TORONTO, Feb. 2, 2012 /CNW/ - Across its various programming genres including sports, news, entertainment, business, lifestyle, and fashion, Bell Media's family of properties have packed Wednesday, Feb. 8 full of programming specifically tailored to get the conversation going about mental health. The company announced today that its CTV, CTV Two, CP24, BNN, CTV News Channel, MuchMusic, MTV, Bravo!, Discovery Channel, FashionTelevisionChannel, E!, SPACE, TSN, and RDS properties will feature programming in support of the second annual Bell Let's Talk Day. The programming is anchored by an all-new MuchMusic special DEMI LOVATO: UNBROKEN, in addition to the previously announced CTV original documentary DARKNESS AND HOPE: DEPRESSION, SPORTS AND ME, featuring Michael Landsberg.

From Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida to Clara Hughes and Stephan Richer, Bell Media has lined up a full day of special programming featuring well-known celebrities and mental health experts speaking candidly and openly about the mental health struggles we all face - all in an attempt to get the conversation started about mental heath. From the impact of mental health issues in the workplace on BNN, a focus on children's mental health on CANADA AM, and a look at Canada's mental illness "Brain Bank" on DAILY PLANET, to examining post-partum depression on THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW, and the suicide of British designer Alexander McQueen on FashionTelevisionChannel, Bell Media is getting people talking on Feb. 8.

Additionally, local CTV television stations and Bell Media radio outlets from coast to coast, will be engaging their communities in the conversation by featuring local mental health experts and shedding light on community initiatives that support those suffering from mental illness.

** Media Note ** Download photos at BellMediaPR.ca

Canadians are encouraged to take the conversation about mental health online at CTV.ca, CTVNews.ca and CP24.com. On Feb. 8, all platforms will host live chats to engage viewers in the conversation. CTVNews.ca will livestream from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, featuring special guests and experts appearing on CTV News Channel, BNN, and CANADA AM, while CP24.com  hosts chats throughout the day with mental health experts. CP24.com will also feature moving personal stories, articles on mental health, resources for those looking for assistance, and a photo wall. Then, starting at 7 p.m. ET, during the broadcast of DARKNESS AND HOPE: DEPRESSION, SPORTS AND ME on CTV, TSN's Michael Landsberg joins Bell Let's Talk Day spokesperson Clara Hughes in a live chat on CTV.ca and the CTV iPad App. Canadians can also access information about the mental health community on CTV.ca or at bell.ca/letstalk.

A few of the highlights of Bell Media's extensive roster of programming in support of Bell Let's Talk Day on Wednesday, Feb. 8, includes:

CP24 - 5:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET
The talk begins on CP24 BREAKFAST with hosts Melissa Grelo and Steve Anthony sitting down with Olympian Clara Hughes and TSN's Michael Landsberg, who discuss their personal struggles with depression. Then, from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., CP24 will feature interactive texts from viewers live on-air, and special guests will appear hourly to share their own connections to mental health awareness. Guests include Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) doctors and patients, as well as Mary Deacon, Chair of the Bell Let's Talk initiative, and high-profile Torontonians.

CANADA AM - 6 a.m. ET on CTV
CANADA AM puts the spotlight on children's mental health and holds a special Town Hall to look at the issue in front of a live studio audience. According to Children's Mental Health Ontario, one in five children will struggle with their mental health, but 85% will not get the treatment they need. Beverly Thomson and Marci Ien host as young people share their struggle with mental illness during this special episode, and CANADA AM invites viewers to share their experiences through live chats during the show. Medical experts will outline the signs, the symptoms and how to tackle treatment options.

CTV News Channel - Beginning 9 a.m. ET
CTV News Channel delivers hours of dedicated programming encouraging a national conversation about mental health in Canada, including more than a dozen interviews accompanied by live online chats with experts from all areas of mental health. Interviews taking place throughout Bell Let's Talk Day include: Francine Gravelle, Director of Mental Health Services for Youth Services Bureau (YSB); Lorne Zon, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association; Louise Bradley, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Commission of Canada; and Dr. David Goldbloom, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and Senior Medical Advisor, Education and Public Affairs at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Guests are also taking part in a live chat on CTVNews.ca.

THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW - 10 a.m. ET on CTV
Canada's Queen of Daytime Marilyn Denis dedicates a show to family health, bringing awareness to post-partum depression. JUNO Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk and Our Lady Peace front man Raine Maida share their personal struggle with post-partum depression, while family health expert Dr. Kymm Feldman and family therapist Joe Rich list the symptoms and address treatments of maternal complications seen during the post-partum period. Plus, Marilyn's alternative health expert Bryce Wylde reveals how natural treatments (ranging from dietary, supplemental, herbal and homeopathic inventions) can help with combating mental illness.

BNN - Beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET
BNN focuses on why mental health initiatives have become an important business imperative, looking at investments on mental health initiatives, and the returns expected in terms of the productivity and preservation of "brain capital." Meaghan Buisson, 47-time Canadian national inline speed skating champion, and Founder of BodyWhys Youth Canada, joins BNN at 10:50 a.m. ET to talk about her battle with mental illness and her efforts to de-stigmatize the condition. The network also concentrates on mental health in the workplace during HEADLINE WITH HOWARD GREEN at 1 p.m. ET. Louise Bradley, CEO of Mental Health Commission of Canada joins BNN at 2:40 p.m. ET, and Clara Hughes is live at 4:20 p.m. ET.

SPEAK OUT ON SUICIDE - 2 p.m. ET on CTV Two
SPEAK OUT ON SUICIDE was part of a week-long series on CANADA AM that originally aired during Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) in 2011. The special examines depression and suicide, with a roundtable discussion including former NHL player Jim Thomson, TSN's Michael Landsberg, and retired Lieutenant General Senator Romeo Dallaire. Alicia Raimundo, who struggled with suicidal thoughts as a teen, and Marc Kajouji, who lost his sister to suicide, also discuss suicide and teens.

INNERSPACE - 6 p.m. ET on SPACE
INNERSPACE host Teddy Wilson examines MindHabits, a game that is designed to help players develop and maintain a more positive state of mind. Based on social intelligence research conducted at McGill University, the game uses simple exercises to help players bust stress and build confidence.

DEMI LOVATO: UNBROKEN - 7 p.m. ET on MuchMusic
In this all-new, 30-minute, MuchMusic exclusive special, Much VJ Lauren Toyota travels to L.A. to talk with pop superstar Demi Lovato about her struggles and her triumphs, including the success of her new album, 'Unbroken.' This revealing interview sheds light on the life of the teen starlet who is not afraid to share her inspirational story with the world.

DARKNESS AND HOPE: DEPRESSION, SPORTS AND ME - 7 p.m. ET on CTV and 10:30 p.m. ET on TSN2
TSN Broadcaster and OFF THE RECORD host Michael Landsberg guides viewers on the journey from depression to recovery and hope in the context of the world of sports. The documentary features candid interviews with Olympian Clara Hughes, two-time Stanley Cup champion Stéphane Richer, and four-time World Series winner Darryl Strawberry as they all discuss their personal battles with depression. Landsberg also openly discusses his personal battle with depression in DARKNESS AND HOPE: DEPRESSION, SPORTS AND ME.

DAILY PLANET: "The Brain Bank" - 7 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on Discovery Channel
What leads some people dealing with depression to take their own life, but not others? The Douglas-Bell Canada Brain Bank stands alone in the world of brain research, and is the only place in Canada that collects and researches the brains of people who have suffered with mental illness. It is here that breakthrough gene research is being done to understand mental illnesses that range from Alzheimer's to schizophrenia to depression severe enough to lead to suicide. In a special segment, DAILY PLANET meets Dr. Gustavo Turecki, who has been trying to unlock the tragic mystery of what leads to suicide for decades. Focusing on epigenetics - how our environments can actually cause our genes to morph and change - his team recently made a scientific breakthrough in his lab at Douglas-Bell Canada Brain Bank. Dissecting and analyzing dozens of brains of people who committed suicide, he discovered that people who were abused or neglected in early childhood showed genetic changes in their brain cells.

FASHION TELEVISION: "The Incredible Life & Tragic Death of Alexander McQueen" - 7 p.m. ET on FashionTelevisionChannel
FASHION TELEVISION presents a timely portrait on legendary British fashion designer and icon Alexander McQueen. Hosted by Jeanne Beker, this half-hour special examines the life of one of the most influential designers of the past decade and celebrates his extraordinary career and impact in the fashion world.

About Bell Let's Talk Day
Bell will contribute five cents for every long distance call and text message its customers make in support of mental health programs across the country on Wednesday, Feb. 8 for Bell Let's Talk Day. Canadians can also get the discussion about mental health started through Twitter. For every re-tweet of the Bell Let's Talk Day message from @Bell_LetsTalk, Bell will donate an additional five cents.

About the Bell Let's Talk Mental Health Initiative
Bell Let's Talk is a $50-million, multi-year charitable program that promotes mental health across Canada based on four key pillars: anti-stigma, care and access, research, and workplace best practices. It's the largest-ever corporate investment in mental health in Canada. To learn more about Bell Let's Talk, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk

About Bell Media
Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. With passion and an unrelenting commitment to excellence, Bell Media entertains, informs and inspires Canadians. Bell Media owns 28 conventional stations, including CTV, Canada's #1 television network and lead broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games, and owns and operates 30 specialty channels, including TSN, Canada's #1 specialty channel and RDS, Canada's #1 French-language specialty channel. Bell Media also owns 33 radio stations, dozens of websites including the Sympatico.ca portal, and Dome Productions Inc. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit www.bellmedia.ca.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter -
@Bell_LetsTalk
@BellMedia_PR
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television
@heylandsberg
@chantalkreviaz
@MrRaineMaida
@ddlovato

Facebook -
facebook.com/ctv
Clara Hughes
Chantal Kreviazuk
Raine Maida
Demi Lovato

Christy Sullivan, 416.384.3624 or [email protected]