MONTREAL — Bell Let’s Talk and the Canadian Red Cross announced today the expansion of the Friendly Calls program, which will now support communities in Atlantic Canada, thanks to a $700,000 donation from Bell Let’s Talk.
Friendly Calls is part of the Canadian Red Cross Covid-19 Appeal to address the increased need for mental health services and supports during the pandemic. With the Friendly Calls program, Red Cross volunteers talk to people who are self-isolated to help decrease loneliness and social isolation, and connect them to mental health resources available to help meet their needs.
Currently available in Ontario and Quebec, the Friendly Calls program will be expanded in those provinces and into Atlantic Canada with a 70% increase from existing Friendly Calls volunteer capacity, as a result of Bell Let’s Talk’s funding. This includes telecommunications support and enhanced training for staff and 85 additional safety and wellbeing volunteers.
“Bell Let’s Talk is proud to help Canadian Red Cross expand the Friendly Calls program to reach even more people as demand for mental health supports has surged with the increased isolation and stress brought on by the Covid-19 situation,” said Mary Deacon, chair of Bell Let’s Talk, in the news release. “During this challenging time, it is critical to ensure that vulnerable people have quick access to the help they need.”
Red Cross staff and volunteers will be able to add up to 8,000 new Friendly Calls each month, helping to provide comfort and assistance, emotional support, guidance, and referrals for vulnerable people in times of crisis. A customized evidence-based telephone screening tool developed for the Covid-19 situation will help volunteers identify an individual’s level of need to help ensure the appropriate supports are available, says the release. The screening will also help with discussion about general wellbeing and health, loneliness and social isolation, general mood and anxiety, as well as financial and medication security.
Today’s announcement is in addition to an earlier $250,000 donation made by Bell to the Canadian Red Cross in March to support the organization’s response to the Covid-19 crisis. Bell announced in March a $5-million increase in Bell Let’s Talk funding with support for five organizations delivering urgent mental health support on the front lines of Canadian communities.
