That Eric Alper

Canada is experiencing a mental health crisis and the Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign is starting the new year by putting a spotlight on the growing need for mental health services and change, inviting Canadians to take meaningful action for mental health on Bell Let’s Talk Day and throughout the year. As part of Bell’s own actions and to mark a new era for Bell Let’s Talk, a fundamental shift is taking place in this year’s campaign. Today, Bell is announcing an additional $10 million towards our goal of $155 million for Canadian mental health programs. This action will replace the donation of 5 cents per interaction that Bell has made in previous years on Bell Let’s Talk Day. This new funding of $10 million is more than Bell has ever committed on Bell Let’s Talk Day and it will shift more emphasis on the day toward practical actions that we can all take throughout the year to create change. In addition, Bell Let’s Talk Day will be putting a spotlight on mental health organizations across the country that are providing supports and services for Canadians experiencing mental health issues – organizations that Bell Let’s Talk is proud to support.

Thirteen years ago, Bell Let’s Talk set out to tackle the stigma around mental illness. Since then, Bell Let’s Talk Day has become the world’s largest conversation about mental health, increasing awareness and helping bring about real change. Still, more needs to be done. Anxiety levels are high, people who are struggling aren’t getting the help they need, and people are dying by suicide. Mental health issues and substance use disorders will affect one in three Canadians in their lifetime. Now is the time to come together, to take action and show support for mental health in meaningful and impactful ways to help ensure all Canadians can access the mental health and addiction supports they need to flourish. This change starts with Bell Let’s Talk’s additional $10 million commitment to mental health organizations and initiatives to help fund vitally important projects all year long.

“As a country, we have made great progress in moving mental health forward, and changed attitudes and behaviours around mental illness, but despite these gains, we must all do more to address the mental health crisis in Canada. We are at a pivotal time when change is urgently needed, so I am pleased to announce that Bell will commit an additional $10 million to Canadian mental health initiatives and on Bell Let’s Talk Day, we will put the focus on community organizations that are helping to drive this change and moving mental health support forward,” says Mirko Bibic, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE.

“This year’s campaign marks a bold new era for Bell Let’s Talk. Together with our partners and organizations all around the country, we have helped increase awareness about mental illness and addiction and Bell Let’s Talk is proud to invest in these organizations all year round. But bold action is needed more than ever. Too many Canadians are still struggling with mental health and addiction issues and not getting the care they need. Let’s change this,” says Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk.

The statistics are alarming:

• More than 200 Canadians will attempt suicide every day; twelve will die
• 56% of people struggling in this country are not getting the help they need
• One in four Canadians have been experiencing high levels of anxiety
• The number of opioid overdose deaths in Canada went up more than 90% during the pandemic. It’s now 20 per day
• For more information about these statistics visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk

Let’s change this. Take action on Bell Let’s Talk Day and all year long!
On January 25 and every day throughout the year, we can all take meaningful action to create positive change. Let’s change this asks everyone to play a role and provides practical examples of ways to create change in our homes, schools, workplaces and communities. Here are some actions we can all take:

• Choose a mental health organization to learn about or support
• Help a friend struggling with their mental health by learning how to support them
• Ask about how your school, workplace or community is creating change for mental health
• Nurture your own well-being by practicing and learning mental health strategies
• Get involved in a mental health initiative or organize an event to support mental health
• Engage in conversations about mental health to fight stigma

Visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk for more ideas and share your actions using #BellLetsTalk and help inspire others to join the movement to create positive change.

The new 2023 nationwide Bell Let’s Talk multimedia campaign – Let’s change this – highlights the mental health crisis Canadians are facing in very real and personal ways and issues a collective call to action and change. On Bell Let’s Talk Day, we will feature mental health organizations that are addressing the crisis and making a real difference for people in their communities around the country, so that more Canadians can learn about the types of supports and services that are available and where to go for help.

“Canadians deserve mental health care whenever and wherever they need it. Yet millions are not currently able to access it. We’re happy to see Bell’s action-oriented work through Bell Let’s Talk Day, uniting Canadians around the value and need for mental health supports. We can’t afford to let Canada’s mental health crisis spiral. It’s time we take action to protect, promote and strengthen mental health for all. Because we all have the right to universal mental health care,” says Margaret Eaton, National Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Mental Health Association

Working collaboratively and with purpose, Bell invests in hundreds of organizations across the country to increase access to mental health supports and services and help create change. With the additional $10 million announced today, we have committed more than $139 million towards our $155 million goal. Our 2023 initiatives include:

• The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund, an annual program that provides grants up to $25,000 for local and grassroots mental health initiatives
• The Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund, which supports the mental health and well-being of BIPOC communities across Canada
• The Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund that supports student mental health programs
• New funding for other mental health projects

Bell also supports employees and their eligible family members with workplace programs, including unlimited mental health benefits coverage. As part of Bell’s commitment to leading by example in our own workplace and encouraging greater workplace engagement across Canada, we are now also offering the Workplace Mental Health Leadership certificate program at no cost to select Bell and Bell Let’s Talk partners.

As part of the new Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign, Bell Media will feature special mental health content in English and French across its TV, radio and digital properties, including a new French language documentary, ACCRO : TROUBLES DE DÉPENDANCES hosted by Marie-Mai available on Canal Vie, Canal D, Crave, and later on Noovo.

Visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk to see examples of actions that we can all take and learn about some of the amazing mental health organizations creating positive change by increasing access to supports and services in communities from coast to coast to coast. Download the Bell Let’s Talk toolkit and Conversation Guides and share your own actions using #BellLetsTalk.

The largest-ever corporate commitment to mental health in Canada, Bell Let’s Talk is focused on 4 key action pillars – Anti-stigma, Care and Access, Research and Workplace Leadership – and is part of Bell for Better. Since its launch in 2010, Bell Let’s Talk has partnered with more than 1,400 organizations providing mental health services throughout Canada, including hospitals, universities, local community service providers and other care and research organizations. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.