MONTREAL – Composer and performer Stefie Shock and actor-comedian Michel Mpambara will be joining Olympian Clara Hughes as spokespeople on the second annual Bell Let's Talk Day.
Scheduled for February 8, 2012, Bell Let's Talk Day is a national event to get people talking about mental health and fight the stigma around mental illness. More than 66 million text messages and long distance calls were made by Bell customers on the inaugural Bell Let's Talk Day in February 2011, generating $3.3 million in new Bell funding for Canadian mental health programs.
"Talking about mental illness is the first and best thing we can do to gain a better understanding of mental health," said Shock. "I am open about my anxiety disorder, and I want to get everyone to start talking openly about mental health issues. The stigma surrounding mental illness is one of the main barriers to getting treatment."
"Too few people affected by mental illness get the help they need, and far too many people take too long to recognize the problem and speak out about it," added Mpambara. "In 2005, my life was turned upside down when I was diagnosed with bipolar and manic-depressive disorders. I want to help reduce the stigma around mental health and give new hope to people with mental illnesses and their loved ones."
