The Co-operators donates $75,000 to Kids Help Phone

GUELPH, ON, Feb. 2, 2016 /CNW/ - Today, The Co-operators joined a passionate group of supporters for male mental health by making a donation of $75,000 to Kids Help Phone in support of its BroTalk service for young males.

BroTalk is a dedicated online support zone and referral service that provides teen guys aged 14 to 18 with information, referrals and professional counselling. It seeks to address the fact that the young men who reach out for counselling are 31 per cent less likely to discuss mental and emotional health issues than girls, and 36 per cent less likely to talk about suicide and suicide related issues.

BroTalk has been designed to address issues that prevent teen guys from reaching out — stigma, gender stereotypes and the term "mental health" —  and provide options for support including direct access to a Kids Help Phone counsellor through Live Chat, information and interactive tools.

"It can be difficult and uncomfortable for young men to reach out for support when they're going through a tough time," said Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-operators. "BroTalk makes it a little easier, by providing an anonymous service guys can access through a live chat function, an app or by phone. We're pleased to support this amazing new service."

With the commitment of Principal Funder the Movember Foundation, BroTalk launched in October 2015 and will help make fundamental changes to the ways in which young men reach out and access the help they need. As a long-time supporter of Kids Help Phone, The Co-operators also donated funds to help launch BroTalk and is pleased to continue its support in 2016.

About The Co-operators
The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $40 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt; Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada; and the Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporations in Canada by Sustainalytics and Maclean's magazine. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.

SOURCE The Co-operators

Leonard Sharman, The Co-operators, [phone]