Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Bell Aliant supports second annual Bell
Let's Talk campaign
Advertising and awareness campaign
invites Atlantic Canadians to join the
conversation about mental health and show
their support on February 8
HALIFAX, NS- Bell Aliant has
partnered with Bell again this year to launch
its nation-wide Let's Talk campaign
inviting Canadians to join the conversation
about mental health. Building on the hugely
successful 2011 Bell Let's Talk Day, this
year's campaign will again focus on
reducing the stigma around mental illness.
The second annual Bell Let's Talk Day
takes place on February 8.
For every text message sent and every long
distance call made by Bell and Bell Aliant
customers on February 8, Bell will donate 5
cents to programs dedicated to mental health
(regular long distance and text message
charges apply).
"We are very proud to partner with Bell
for Let's Talk Day," said Karen
Sheriff, President and CEO of Bell Aliant.
"Last year's numbers prove to us
that our focus on joining the conversation is
working and that talking openly about mental
illness is the first step to breaking down
the stigma attached to it."
Starting this week, a major national and
Atlantic TV, print, radio and outdoor
campaign will run through February 8, focused
on Clara Hughes' world-famous smile and
her own story of depression.
"Canadians really stepped up to talk
about mental health on last year's very
successful Bell Let's Talk Day, and the
conversation has only continued to grow since
then," said Ms. Hughes, Canada's
six-time Olympic medalist and the smile at
the forefront of Bell Let's Talk.
"Open and honest discussion of how
mental illness impacts each of us is crucial
to driving the awareness, acceptance and
action needed to make a real difference in
mental health. So let's talk
Canada!"
In Atlantic Canada, a group of people have
agreed to share their compelling stories
about living with mental illness. Also, a
panel of subject matter experts has been
assembled and will play an important role in
addressing mental health issues in this
region. They include:
- Dr. Alexa Bagnell,Associate
Professor, Dalhousie Dept. of Psychiatry,
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, IWK
Treatment of Anxiety Group (Halifax, Nova
Scotia)
- Dr. Pam Forsythe,Psychiatrist
and chairperson of MindCare (Saint John,
New Brunswick)
- Dr. Nadeem Dada,Psychiatrist
(Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)
- Dr. Nizar Ladha,Psychiatrist -
Associate Professor, Memorial University.
General and forensic psychiatry (St.
John's, Newfoundland & Labrador)
"I meet young people every day who are
struggling with the kinds of issues Bell
Let's Talk Day is all about", said Dr.
Alexa Bagnell, psychiatrist and one of the
founders of the Treatment of Anxiety Group for
children and adolescents at the IWK Health
Centre. "Getting kids and teens to talk
about their mental health empowers them to
become proactive and seek the help they
need."
Mental illness is increasingly threatening the
lives of our children; with Canada's youth
suicide rate being the third highest in the
industrialized world. For Canadians aged 15 to
24, suicide is the second leading cause of
death.
In 2011, Bell and Bell Aliant customers
answered the call in support of mental health.
With a total of 66,079,236 text messages and
long distance calls made by Bell and Bell
Aliant customers on Bell Let's Talk Day,
Bell's donation of 5 cents per message and
long distance call meant the company gave
$3,303,961.80 in addition to the $50 million
already committed to Canadian mental health
initiatives.
In 2011, Atlantic Canadian organizations
including Halifax's Laing House, the Eating
Disorder Foundation of Newfoundland & Labrador,
Health PEI and Mindcare New Brunswick all
received funding from the Bell Let's Talk
initiative for the important work they do in
making a difference in the lives of people
every day.
"Mental illness touches one in five
Canadians and no one should tackle it
alone," said Lisa Merrithew, VP Corporate
Affairs, Bell Aliant. "We believe that
corporate Canada can play a key role in
increasing awareness and helping to make
treatment in our communities more accessible.
Working together we can improve the lives of
Canadians and help reduce the over $50 billion
annual cost of mental health to our
economy."
This year Atlantic Canadians can join the
conversation on Facebook, Twitter and
at by posting comments, questions
and a smile of their own, while learning more
about mental health resources, the Bell Mental
Health Initiative and the ways we can begin our
own conversations at home and in the
workplace.
.
About Bell Aliant
Bell Aliant (TSX: BA) is one of North
America's largest regional communications
providers and the first company in Canada to
cover an entire city with fibre-to-the-home
(FTTH) technology with its
FibreOP™ services. Through its
operating entities it serves customers in six
Canadian provinces with innovative information,
communication and technology services including
voice, data, Internet, video and value-added
business solutions. Bell Aliant's employees
deliver the highest quality of customer
service, choice and convenience.
For more information contact
:
Christine Manore
Bell Aliant
(888) 845-3171
christine.manore@bellaliant.ca