MONTREAL – The fifth annual Bell Let's Talk Day will take place on January 28, 2014, Bell confirmed Monday.
National spokesperson and six-time Olympian Clara Hughes is again leading the campaign to invite all Canadians to talk, text and tweet about mental health and help build a Canada free of the stigma of mental illness. This year's Bell Let's Talk's campaign focuses on five simple ways to help end the stigma around mental illness:
– Language matters – pay attention to the words you use about mental illness;
– Educate yourself – learn, know and talk more, understand the signs;
– Be kind – small acts of kindness speak a lot;
– Listen and ask – sometimes it's best to just listen;
– Talk about it – start a dialogue, break the silence.
On January 28, for every text message, wireless and long distance call made by Bell Canada and Bell Aliant customers, every tweet using #BellLetsTalk, and every Facebook share of that day's Bell Let's Talk Day image at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk, Bell will donate 5 cents more to Canadian mental health programs.
In 2014, Canadians answered the call with a total of 109,451,718 messages including texts, wireless and long distance calls, tweets and Facebook shares, meaning Bell added another $5,472,585,90 to its Bell Let's Talk funding commitment. Based on its original $50 million donation and the results of the last four Bell Let's Talk Days, Bell has now committed more than $67.5 million to Canadian mental health.
TSN host Michael Landsberg, comedian Howie Mandel, and entertainer Mary Walsh join Clara and Québec spokespeople Stefie Shock and Michel Mpambara in the Bell Let's Talk campaign. In addition, professional golfer Andrew Jensen will join comedian and writer Kevin Breel, CFL veteran Shea Emry and musician Robb Nash in spreading the conversation about mental health. Together, the Bell Let's Talk team will be talking about their own mental health experiences in media and at events as they encourage Canadians to join the conversation.
"The Bell Let's Talk conversation continues to grow each year, and we continue to make progress toward ending the stigma by talking about how mental illness affects all of us," said George Cope, president and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE, in the news release. "On Bell Let's Talk Day, every one of us has the opportunity to support those who struggle and help drive funding and action in Canadian mental health."
