MONTREAL, Feb. 8, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - It's Bell Let's Talk Day, and Clara Hughes invites all Canadians to talk about mental health to fight the lingering stigma around mental illness, a stigma that keeps most people who struggle with the disease from seeking the help they need.
"Fighting stigma is critical to advancing Canadian mental health, and it's the first pillar in the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative," said Clara Hughes, Canada's six-time Olympic medalist and the smile at the forefront of the Bell Let's Talk campaign. "By telling my own story, I'm proud to be a part of the conversation that is having such a positive impact on the lives of every Canadian affected by mental illness. We're really looking forward to topping the more than 66 million texts and calls made on Bell Let's Talk Day last year - and based on the incredibly positive reaction to Bell Let's Talk I get from people everywhere in this great country, I know we can do it!"
Join the conversation!
You can join the Bell Let's Talk conversation about mental health simply by sending a text, making a call, retweeting or uploading a picture of your smile alongside Clara's at Bell.ca/LetsTalk or at facebook.com/BellCanada.
For every text message sent and every long distance call made by Bell and Bell Aliant customers today, Bell will donate 5 cents to programs dedicated to mental health (regular long distance and text charges apply). New this year, Bell is also encouraging Canadians to follow the campaign on Twitter @Bell_LetsTalk and keep the conversation going - for every retweet of the Bell Let's Talk Day message today, Bell will donate an additional 5 cents.
Last year's Bell Let's Talk Day campaign resulted in total of 66,079,236 text messages and long-distance calls by Bell and Bell Aliant customers - meaning Bell donated $3,303,961.80 more to Canadian mental health programs.
Bell Let's Talk in action
As part of Bell Let's Talk 2012, Bell has made significant recent contributions to two major institutions in support of Canadian mental health: A $2 million gift to the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montréal last week to establish the Douglas-Bell Canada Brain Bank to drive research into the causes and effects of mental illness, and a $1 million donation to Queen's University this week to establish the Bell Mental Health and Anti-stigma Research Chair - the first Chair of its kind in the world.
The Douglas and Queen's join the University of British Columbia, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the Royal Ottawa Hospital, Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine, and other mental health organizations in the Bell Let's Talk initiative. In January, Bell also announced the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund for 2012, a $1-million annual fund that supports grassroots mental health organizations in every region in Canada.
The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative is a five-year, $50-million charitable program based on four action pillars: Anti-stigma, care and access, research, and workplace best practices. This year's Bell Let's Talk Day has been supported by a major national promotional campaign involving TV, print, radio, outdoor and online advertising, social media and special events. And with the generous support of a vast range of media, sports, business and community organizations, the Bell Let's Talk anti-stigma message is being delivered from coast to coast to coast like never before.
For more information, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
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: "Clara Hughes, Bell Let's Talk national spokesperson. (CNW Group/BELL CANADA)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120208_C2330_PHOTO_EN_9822.jpg
Image with caption: "Clara Hughes, Bell Let's Talk national spokesperson. (CNW Group/BELL CANADA)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120208_C2330_PHOTO_EN_9820.jpg
Image with caption: "Clara Hughes, Bell Let's Talk national spokesperson. (CNW Group/BELL CANADA)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120208_C2330_PHOTO_EN_9851.jpg
Jacqueline Michelis
Bell Media Relations
1-855-785-1427
[email protected]
@Bell_News
About Bell Canada's largest communications company with more than 22 million consumer and business connections, Bell provides advanced broadband wireless, TV, Internet and business communication services throughout the country. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia...
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