MONTRÉAL — Bell Canada announced today $1 million in grants from the Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund have been awarded to 16 Canadian colleges, universities and cégeps to support their mental health initiatives.
The post-secondary programs receiving the funding are aligned with either the National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students or the Québec Action Plan on Student Mental Health for Higher Education.
The list of schools receiving grants from the Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund and the programs they plan to implement is available here.
“According to the 2021 survey by the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, the pandemic has not only worsened pre-existing mental health challenges in 78% of students, but it has created new challenges for 64%, and while some students remain optimistic, the percentage has dropped by 5% in the past year to 41%,” reads a Bell Let’s Talk press release.
“Bell’s commitment to student mental health is an ongoing priority especially as students continue to be impacted by the effects of the pandemic,” said Mary Deacon, chair of Bell Let’s Talk, in the release.
“We are proud to continue our support of post-secondary institutions’ efforts to expand, enhance or establish programs that support student mental health and well-being, and ultimately student success.”
Since the January 2021 launch of the organization’s post-secondary fund, Bell Let’s Talk has awarded more than $4 million in grants to Canadian post-secondary institutions, according to the press release.
The application process for the 2022 Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund Implementation grants will open in the spring, the release says.
Bell also announced its Bell Let’s Talk 2022 Campus Campaign, which includes the participation of more than 225 Canadian schools, will continue to focus on the use of a digital toolkit “to ensure post-secondary institutions can safely engage students in virtual ways across the country.”
The toolkit contains resources such as: a virtual photo booth for students, faculty and staff to post selfies and share personalized mental health messages; wellness activities that encourage awareness and self-care; a digital Bell Let’s Talk flag to be shared on social media channels and websites; and short films about mental illness, hope and recovery.
Bell Let’s Talk is also partnering again with Kids Help Phone for an Instagram Stories event on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. ET. Questions can be submitted on Jan. 11 and 13 through Instagram Stories.
In addition, Jack.org will host a virtual Jack Talk on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. ET. More information is available here.
These announcements come two weeks before Bell Let’s Talk Day, taking place Jan. 26. On that day, Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for each text, local or long-distance call, tweet or TikTok video using the hashtag #BellLetsTalk, as well as for every Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube view of the Bell Let’s Talk Day video, and for every use of the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook frame or Snapchat lens.
For more information, please click here.
Photo supplied by Bell Let’s Talk.
