YELLOWKNIFE — The government of the Northwest Territories, in partnership with Bell Let’s Talk and Northwestel, announced Wednesday a $500,000 collaboration that will support the Strongest Families Institute to provide mental health services for children, youth, adults and families throughout the Northwest Territories.
Strongest Families Institute is an award-winning charity that provides evidence-based programming for individuals and their families to overcome significant issues such as anxiety and behaviour challenges. Strongest Families Institute currently operates in nine provinces across Canada and uses an innovative distance coaching approach to support clients while respecting their privacy. Strongest Families Institute coaches provide support when and where people need help — at home day or night.
Programs and supports through the Strongest Families Institute will be available in both English and French when programming in Northwest Territories is officially launched later this month. The Strongest Families Institute’s programming was co-designed with partners, including Indigenous advisors. All Strongest Families Institute coaches are diversity trained and receive cultural competency training.
“Bell Let’s Talk is pleased to build on our existing partnership with the Strongest Families Institute to bring new mental health resources to families in the Northwest Territories,” said Mary Deacon, chair of Bell Let’s Talk, in the news release. “Bell and Northwestel share the Government of the Northwest Territories’ commitment to expanding access to mental health support in ways that will make a real difference in people’s lives.”
Curtis Shaw, president of Northwestel, added: “As a longstanding partner of Bell Let’s Talk and a passionate supporter of mental health in the North, Northwestel is proud to be involved in today’s announcement about how we will make additional resources available to Northwest Territories families. Mental health affects all of us, and I want to thank Bell Let’s Talk, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the Strongest Families Institute for the work they are doing to make mental health a priority in our communities.”
Bell’s annual Bell Let’s Talk Day mental health awareness and funding campaign is happening January 29 this year. On that day, at no cost to participants beyond what they would normally pay their service providers for online or phone access, Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for each of the following interactions on Bell Let’s Talk Day:
- Talk: Every mobile and every long-distance call made by Bell wireless and phone customers
- Text: Every text message sent by Bell wireless customers
- Twitter: Every tweet and retweet using #BellLetsTalk, featuring the special Bell Let’s Talk emoji, and every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view at com/Bell_LetsTalk
- Facebook: Every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view at com/BellLetsTalkand every use of the Bell Let’s Talk frame
- Instagram: Every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view at com/Bell_LetsTalk
- Snapchat: Every use of the Bell Let’s Talk filter and every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view
- YouTube: Every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view at com/BellCanada
To learn more, visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
