Let's Talk... For a Good Cause!

On September 21, 2010, Bell launched a $50-million multi-year charitable campaign to support and promote mental health services nationwide.

Bell launches national charitable initiative supporting mental health

The initiative is being led by Mary Deacon, former CEO of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Foundation. The campaign will focus on four pillars: anti-stigma, community care and access, workplace health and research.

The telecommunications company also announced Bell Let’s Talk Day, which will seek to raise awareness about mental health. On February 9, 2011, 5 cents from every text message and long distance call made by Bell customers will be donated to support mental health initiatives across the country. Six-time Olympic medalist Clara Hughes will be leading the national conversation.

Mental illness is something many people suffer from, but is something not often discussed, and the facts are startling:

·  At least one in five Canadians experiences a form of mental illness at some point in their lives – each and every one of us has a family member, friend or colleague who will experience mental illness

·  Mental illness represents 15% of Canada’s health care burden but receives only 5% of health care funding

·  Just one-third of Canadians who need mental health services actually receive them

·  Mental illness is the number one cause of workplace disability in Canada – accounting for 30% of disability claims and 70% of disability costs

·  Mental illness costs the Canadian economy $51 billion each year in lost productivity – every day, 500,000 Canadians are absent from work due to a form of mental illness

Mental illness affects residents in every corner of our country, Southwest York Region included. York Central Hospital provides both inpatient and outpatient services to patients and our dedicated team of professionals works hard to ensure those suffering from mental health get the treatment they require.

On Wednesday, you can help raise awareness by doing what most of us love to do anyway: communicate with friends and family. Send a text message, or make a phone call to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.

You’ll be helping to open the lines of communication and support mental health initiatives throughout the country.

For more information, visit www.bell.ca/letstalk.

Looking forward joining you in the conversation,

Alyshia

Stewardship & Communications Coordinator