Bell Let’s Talk Day is just around the corner and we’re proud of our connections to the mental health initiative. Beyond being the Presenting Sponsor of our annual Let’s Keep Talking event and supporting Models for Mental Health, our President & CEO Starr Cunningham is part of the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund Advisory Committee.
On January 29th we’re joining in the conversation to make a difference in the lives of Nova Scotians because of the extraordinary impact the campaign has had on eradicating the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction. By encouraging us to speak up about mental illness, trauma, and addiction, 84% of Canadians now say they are comfortable speaking with others about mental health, compared to only 42% in 2012.
But it’s about more than dialogue. It’s about increasing financial aid to supports and services for those living with mental illness and addiction. Bell Let’s Talk has provided more than 100 million dollars in funding to mental health initiatives across Canada including our friends, partners and grant recipients at these 18 Nova Scotia-based organizations:
· Adult Learning Association of Cape Breton County
· Boys and Girls Club of East Dartmouth
· Brigadoon Village
· Cape Breton Community Housing Association
· Cape Breton Mental Health Foundation & Crossroads
· Common Roots Urban Farm- Woodside
· East Hants Family Resource Centre
· Eating Disorders Nova Scotia
· IWK’s SeaStar Child and Youth Advocacy Centre Strongest Families Institute
· Kingston/Greenwood Mental Health Coalition
· Laing House
· LOVE Nova Scotia
· Northwood Seeds of Success
· Self-Help Connection
· Shelter Nova Scotia
· St. Francis Xavier University (Mental health First Aid)
· Student-Athlete Mental Health Initiative
· The Tema Foundation
There’s still plenty of work to be done to ensure all Nova Scotians have access to the mental health support they need. Join us on the 10th annual Bell Let’s Talk Day to share the actions you’re taking to improve the lives of Nova Scotians living with mental illness and addiction.
For every text, mobile and long distance call made on the Bell network, tweet using #BellLetsTalk, social media video view, or use of the Facebook frame or Snapchat filter on January 29th, Bell will contribute 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs.
Together we can help change the way people think about mental illness and addiction and increase financial support to mental health initiatives in communities throughout Nova Scotia.