MONTREAL — Bell Let’s Talk today announced $500,000 in new grants from the Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund to support six organizations working to improve access to mental health care for Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) communities in Canada.
This is in addition to $600,000 in grants disbursed earlier this year to six other organizations focused on increasing access to mental health services for members of BIPOC communities.
Since its launch in 2020, the Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund has provided $3.35 million in grants to 28 organizations, including inaugural donations to Black Youth Helpline and the National Association of Friendship Centres.
The most recent Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund grant recipients are:
- African Canadian Development and Prevention Network
- Crow Shield Lodge (above, right)
- Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. (above, left)
- Les Ballons Intensifs
- Moksha Canada Foundation
- Wabanaki Two-Spirit Alliance
Grant recipients announced in January 2022 include:
- Black Youth School Success Initiative
- Healthy Start Healthy Future Inc.
- Kitikmeot Heritage Society
- L’Hybridé
- Nisa Foundation
- Wolf Lake First Nation
“We are very pleased to announce our latest Diversity Fund recipients,” said Mary Deacon, chair of Bell Let’s Talk, in a press release. “These outstanding organizations are working hard to improve access to culturally informed mental health and wellness supports and services in many diverse communities across the country. On behalf of Bell Let’s Talk, congratulations to each of them for continuing their incredible work during these challenging times of increased demand for care and support.”
“Bell Let’s Talk understands the importance of investing in and with Indigenous peoples,” said Dodie Jordaan, executive director of grant recipient Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. “The Cultural Care-Elder Wellness Project will provide holistic, wrap-around mental health and wellness supports. By enabling healing pathways, social transformations and actions will lead to positive lifestyles causing ripple effects into healthier families, guided trauma recovery, supported healing and tools and resources necessary to overcome barriers.
“This project was designed with the Indigenous community and will be delivered by an all-Indigenous team, through Ka Ni Kanichihk, an Indigenous-led organization. There’s tremendous strength in working together, and the support and partnership of Bell Let’s Talk makes such a difference,” Jordaan said.
Sunil Channan, executive director of Moksha Canada Foundation, said the financial support from Bell Let’s Talk will enable the foundation to provide free mental health, wellness counselling sessions and support groups sessions to racialized youth in York Region.
“A safe and inclusive space will be created for Black and South Asian youth, providing them with timely support, tools and resources to address any barriers to accessing mental health support and empowering them to realize their full potential. The project will engage experienced mental health professionals who will provide one-on-one and group counselling sessions to address mental health challenges experienced by racialized and newcomer youth,” Channan said.
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Photos provided by Bell Let’s Talk.
