VANCOUVER – Bell Canada has gifted $1.25 million to support mental health in British Columbia, including $1 million to the University of British Columbia's Institute of Mental Health for the Bell Youth Mental Health IMPACT Project, and $250,000 to the Streetohome Foundation as part of Covenant House Vancouver's Semi-Independent Housing Program.
"We are very proud to welcome UBC and Streetohome as our newest partners in the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative," said George Cope, president and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE, in the announcement. "The research, care and access these mental health leaders will provide to youth and young adults support key pillars in Bell's national mental health program. Alongside anti-stigma efforts like Bell Let's Talk Day, this important work is changing attitudes and driving action to promote mental health across our country."
In addition, Bell has circled February 8, 2012 as the second annual Bell Let's Talk Day.
Bell Let's Talk Day is a national event to get people talking about mental health and fight the pervasive stigma around mental illness. Bell will donate 5 cents to mental health initiatives for every text message and long distance call made by Bell and Bell Aliant customers on Bell Let's Talk Day.
The more than 66 million text messages and long distance calls made by customers on the inaugural Bell Let's Talk Day in February 2011 generated $3.3 million in new Bell funding for Canadian mental health programs.
