Vancouver Whitecaps FC are proud to support the club's Premier Founding Partner for the ninth annual Bell Let's Talk Day.
- Discover the stories of 41 Friends of Bell Let's Talk who have struggled with mental illness
- Take part in events across the country, including new Bell Let's Talk flag raisings
- Get ready to talk, text and get engaged on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to help fight the stigma and drive Bell's donations to mental health
- Learn more at Bell.ca/LetsTalk
Canadians everywhere and people around the world will be talking, texting and joining in on social media today for Bell Let's Talk Day. To get ready, we invite you to take part in Bell Let's Talk events today and and learn more from those who have struggled with mental illness.
"I am so honoured to be part of the Friends of Bell Let's Talk campaign and grateful for the positive response from Canadians as we share our experiences with mental illness," said Dr. Manon Charbonneau, a psychiatrist who tells her story of depression alongside 40 other Friends of Bell Let's Talk as part of this year's awareness campaign. "Mental illness does not discriminate – it touches us all. I look forward to being part of the conversation and encourage all Canadians to join in to build on the progress we're all making in mental health."
The Friends of Bell Let's Talk join the Bell Let's Talk team that gets people everywhere talking about mental health, including spokespeople Howie Mandel, Marie-Soleil Dion, Michael Landsberg, Michel Mpambara, Stefie Shock, Mary Walsh and Étienne Boulay, and community ambassadors Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, pro golfer Andrew Jensen, comedian Kevin Breel, retired CFL player Shea Emry, singer-songwriter Séan McCann, Royal Canadian Navy veteran Bruno Guévremont, comedian Jessica Holmes, musician Florence K and actress Véronique Bannon.
Bell Let's Talk Events
Please see below for a list of Bell Let's Talk events taking place across the country today. This year, communities and organizations will also show their support for the mental health cause with Bell Let's Talk flag raisings (joining earlier flag raisings by the Ottawa Senators, North Bay Battalion, and Niagara Ice Dogs).
JANUARY 30
Bell Media's Bell Let's Talk Day primetime specials
CTV Your Morning's Anne-Marie Mediwake hosts In Their Own Words: A Bell Let's Talk Day Special, an all-new primetime special premiering at 7 pm ET/PT on CTV and CTV2. The 1-hour special, featuring stories from Canadians living with mental illness, will be simulcast on Twitter, CTV.ca and the CTV app as part of a 3-hour Bell Let's Talk Live interactive special.
Olympic medalist Sylvie Fréchette and comedian Félix-Antoine Tremblay (Le Chalet, Code G.) host Quand la maladie mentale s'invite, a documentary that looks at 4 organizations working with people coping with mental health issues, exploring themes of family, work, everyday life and the street. Airing on RDS at 7:30 pm and 11:30 pm ET, Canal Vie and Z at 9 pm ET and Canal D at 10 pm ET, the documentary will be available to stream at 10 pm ET on VRAK.tv, RDS.ca, Canal Vie and Z and at 11 pm ET at Canal D.
Twitter Live event
Hosted by CTV's The Social and Your Morning's Melissa Grelo from 6:45 pm to 10 pm ET, Bell Let's Talk Live features interviews with medical experts, political leaders, celebrities and other guests. The special recaps moments from throughout the day, including segments from The Marilyn Denis Show, The Social, Etalk and CTV News, and highlights contributions from celebrities and social media. Bell Let's Talk Live streams in simulcast with In Their Own Words: A Bell Let's Talk Day Special from 7 to 8 pm ET. Viewers can connect with the show on Twitter using @Bell_LetsTalk and #BellLetsTalk.
Jessica Holmes in Toronto
Jessica joins The Social as fifth chair for a special Bell Let's Talk Day episode.
Robin Williams documentary at Hot Docs
In partnership with Hot Docs and Workman Arts, a special free screening of Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind takes place at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto at 6:30 pm ET. A discussion panel following the event will feature Bell Let's Talk team members Mary Walsh, Jessica Holmes and Dr. Joti Samra.
Bruno Guévremont in Halifax
Bruno will take part in the first Bell Let's Talk Day flag raising ceremony at CFB Halifax at 8 am AT before speaking with healthcare professionals at the IWK Health Centre at 9 am AT. He then joins the annual Canadian Armed Forces panel discussion on mental health at 2 pm AT with DND Co-Champion for Mental Health Jerry Ryan, Commodore Chris Sutherland, Lieutenant-Colonel David Coker, Corporal Travis Weir, Petty Officer 2nd Class Chevonne Fisher, and psychologist Chimène Jewer. The event will be moderated by CTV's Paul Hollingsworth with Base Operations Officer Lieutenant-Commander Sylvie Robinson, and will live-stream on Facebook. Bruno will also speak with visitors at the Discovery Centre at 6 pm AT.
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Mental Health Webinar
Traci Melchor, 2018 Champion of Mental Health Award recipient and CTV's Etalk Senior Correspondent, joins Toronto Rehab in hosting a special mental health webinar focused on anxiety and depression. The webinar will be streamed live from Toronto Rehab's University Centre beginning at 12:10 pm ET. At the conclusion of the webinar, Traci will present a $25,000 Bell Let's Talk Community Fund cheque to the organization.
Shea Emry in Ottawa
The Canada School of Public Service, the Federal Youth Network and the Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace partner to present the Government of Canada Bell Let's Talk Day with Shea Emry at 12 noon ET.
Len Reynen in Ottawa
Len will speak with more than 100 nursing students at Algonquin College.
Michel Mpambara in Gatineau
Michel is speaking to high school students at Collège Nouvelles Frontières.
Jonathan Thériault and Richard Langlois in Valcartier
Jonathan and Richard will take part in a Bell Let's Talk flag raising event at 2nd Canadian Division Support Group at 8:30 am ET.
Étienne Boulay in Québec City
The Festival d'été de Québec presents a special evening for the CERVO Foundation at Impérial Bell in Québec City at 5:30 pm ET. The evening will be hosted by Étienne and will feature a performance by singer-songwriter Jonathan Roy. Free admission with reservations.
Andrew Jensen in Winnipeg
Andrew will participate in the True North Youth Summit at Bell MTS Place at 11 am CT. Andrew will also present a 2018 Bell Let's Talk Community Fund cheque to the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba at the Spin Away Stigma event at 1:30 pm CT.
Chris Johnson in Edmonton
Chris will participate as a panelist at CMHA Edmonton's annual Distress Line Breakfast at 7 am MT. Chris will also speak at a fundraiser for the Edmonton Mental Health Awareness Committee at Block 1912 Café at 6 pm MT.
Raptors 905 game in support of Bell Let's Talk
At a special Raptors 905 game at 11 am ET, approximately 5,000 young people will receive Bell Let's Talk/Raptors 905 toques. The game, which airs on TSN4, will be hosted by Alexandra Chaves from Family's The Next Step and Raptors 905 spokesperson Akil Augustine.
Peterborough Petes game in support of Bell Let's Talk
The first 2,000 fans will receive a Bell Let's Talk toque at the game at 7:05 pm ET, where a special presentation will take place.
True North Project 11 Summit with Winnipeg Jets
More than 4,000 students will be actively engaged in the conversation around mental health as they gather at Bell MTS Place to join the True North Youth Foundation's second annual Project 11 Summit in a celebration of youth empowerment and wellbeing.
National Music Centre / Studio Bell
Studio Bell will host a full day of programming focused on mental health and music. Local Albertan artist Lyra Brown will perform a concert alongside a mental health exhibition featuring local community partners, music therapy presentations and a special tour of the venue with National Music Centre CEO Andrew Mosker.
Art and Film features at TIFF
TIFF will feature an interactive day in support of Bell Let's Talk that explores the ways art and film encourage meaningful connections around mental health, including an afternoon of art-making in the atrium, a free screening of Take Shelter followed by a panel discussion.
Reading, Writing and Mental Health
Penguin Random House Canada will host a free public panel at 6:15 pm ET to discuss the importance of reading and writing in relation to mental health. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. David S. Goldbloom, Senior Medical Advisor and psychiatrist at CAMH, and co-author of the bestselling How Can I Help? A Week in My Life as a Psychiatrist. Panelists include Don Gillmor, Jael Richardson and Yasuko Thanh.
Mental Health in the Workplace panel
The CERVO Foundation will host a conference on mental health in the workplace at Université Laval in Québec City at 12 noon ET. Panelists include Allison Rosenthal, General Manager of Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical, Marie-Nicole Audette, Senior Manager of Workplace Health at Bell, and Marc Corbière, Professor at the CERVO Brain Research Centre.
Minding the Gap: A Conversation on Mental Health & Stigma
The Ismaili Centre Toronto will host a panel event at 6 pm ET led by Karim Mamdani, CEO of Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, where participants will speak about their experiences with mental illness.
Maternal Mental Health Meet-ups
Life with a Baby will be hosting free meet-ups at various Indigo locations across Canada encouraging moms to learn more about the importance of self-care.
Polar bear dip for mental health
A polar bear dip will take place at Black Rock Beach in Halifax at 12 noon AT to support Phoenix Youth mental health programs.
Vancouver City Hall and BC Place to light up blue
Vancouver City Hall and BC Place, home of the Vancouver Whitecaps, will be lighted in blue for Bell Let's Talk Day with electronic messaging about mental health displayed throughout the stadium.
University and college sport games in support of Bell Let's Talk
More than 200 universities and colleges around the country are hosting almost 400 events and varsity games to encourage the campus mental health conversation.
Bell Let's Talk flag raisings:
<span class="prnews_span">2nd Canadian Division Support Group, Montréal</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Moncton City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">2nd Canadian Division Support Group, Valcartier</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Niagara Falls City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Barrie City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">North Bay City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School, Saint Jean</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Ottawa City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Cape Breton Regional Municipality City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Peterborough City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">CFB Halifax </span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Peterborough Petes</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Churchill Town Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Pickering City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Corner Brook City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Pointe-à-Carcy Naval Complex, Québec City</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Fredericton City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Portage and Main, Winnipeg</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Guelph City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Saint John City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Halifax City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Sault Ste. Marie City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Hermitage-Sandyville Town Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">St. John's City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">HMCS Prevost, London</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Sudbury City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Iqaluit City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Toronto City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Kingston City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Toronto Police Service</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Ktunaxa Nation</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Toronto Rock</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Manitoba Legislature (Memorial Park), Winnipeg </span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Vaughan City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Markham City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Whitehorse City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Milton City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Yellowknife City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Mississauga City Hall</span> |
<span class="prnews_span">Yukon Legislature, Whitehorse</span> |
Join the conversation
Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for each of the following interactions at no extra cost to participants beyond what they would normally pay their service provider for online or phone access:
- Talk: Every mobile call and every long distance call made by Bell wireless and phone customers
- Text: Every text message sent by Bell wireless customers
- Twitter: Every tweet and retweet using #BellLetsTalk, featuring the special Bell Let's Talk emoji, and Bell Let's Talk Day video view at Twitter.com/Bell_LetsTalk
- Facebook: Every view of the Bell Let's Talk Day video at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk and use of the Bell Let's Talk frame
- Instagram: Every Bell Let's Talk Day video view at Instagram.com/bell_letstalk
- Snapchat: Every use of the Bell Let's Talk filter and video view
Total Bell Let's Talk Day interactions since the first event in 2011 stand at 867,449,649 and are expected to exceed a total of 1 billion. Bell's funding commitment for mental health, including the company's donations based on Bell Let's Talk Day engagement and its original $50-million donation to launch the initiative, is now $93,423,628.80 and expected to surpass a total of $100 million.
The 5 simple ways to help end the stigma around mental illness
Together, we can all help end the stigma around mental illness with the 5 simple ways developed by Dr. Heather Stuart, the Bell Mental Health and Anti-Stigma Research Chair at Queen's University:
- 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
To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
