MONTREAL – Bell has kicked off the 2014 Bell Let's Talk campaign in support of Canadian mental health, highlighted by the fourth annual Bell Let's Talk Day on January 28.
National spokesperson Clara Hughes again leads the campaign inviting all Canadians to talk, text and tweet about mental health to help end the stigma around mental illness and support mental health initiatives around the country.
Joining her in the Bell Let's Talk campaign again this year are Atlantic Canada's Seamus O'Regan, Québec spokespeople Stefie Shock and Michel Mpambara, plus new ambassadors former NHL star Joé Juneau, CFL veteran Shea Emry, musicians Robb Nash and Matthew Good, and standup comic Kevin Breel.
In addition to its original $50-million commitment, Bell has pledged to increase Bell Let's Talk Day funding. On January 28, for every text message and long distance call made by Bell and Bell Aliant customers, every tweet using #BellLetsTalk at @Bell_LetsTalk, 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 programs dedicated to mental health. Bell's donations are made at no extra charge to Bell Let's Talk Day participants, though normal long distance or text charges, if any, apply.
"Mental illness has a huge impact on the lives of individual Canadians, like the more than 500,000 who will miss work today because of a mental health issue, and on our national economy with an overall financial cost surpassing $52 billion a year," said George Cope, president and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE, in the news release. "On Bell Let's Talk Day, we invite you to join us in lending support to those facing mental illness and the caregivers, researchers and community leaders at the forefront of improving Canadian mental health."
www.Bell.ca/LetsTalk
