I’m going to put in a plug for Bell Let’s Talk Day tomorrow because…this is my blog, and I can.

And it’s a cause near and dear to my heart. Bell Let’s Talk is a charitable initiative spearheaded by Bell Canada to support mental health organizations in Canada. Its goals are to reduce stigma, increase care and access, support the mental health of its own employees and show organizations how to do the same, and to invest in research.

As someone who quite possibly wouldn’t be here without access to professional mental health services when I was at the lowest points of my lifelong struggle with chronic depression and obsessive compulsive disorder, I wish for everyone that they had the opportunities for healing that I did. Even the therapists that I cursed on a regular basis pulled me through, I see now. And while I’ve been fortunate enough not to experience a huge amount of stigma because of mental health diagnoses, I certainly know that it exists. I know that stigma is a huge problem.

I support any initiative that increases access and decreases stigma for people with a mental health diagnosis.

Bell Let’s Talk Day – January 27, 2016

Bell has already committed $100 million in funding. However (from website):

“On Bell Let’s Talk Day, for every text message, wireless and long distance call made by Bell Canada and Bell Aliant customers, every tweet using #BellLetsTalk, and every Facebook share of tomorrow’s Bell Let’s Talk Day image at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk, Bell will donate 5 cents more to Canadian mental health programs.

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. To learn more about the campaign, or to download the Bell Let’s Talk toolkit and help get the conversation started, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

Thanks to the response on Bell Let’s Talk Day 2015, Bell committed a further $6,107,538.60 in funding for Canadian mental health – bringing the Bell Let’s Talk total to $73,623,413.80.”

Bell Let’s Talk – Add Your Voice!

Please support Canadian mental programs tomorrow (January 27) and be sure to check out the Bell Let’s Talk website to see the work that Bell Let’s Talk has supported since 2011, a list of Canadian resources, and 5 simple ways to help end the stigma around mental illness! Thanks!