KEEP TALKING, KEEP LISTENING, KEEP HOPE!
NEWS RELEASE
(North Bay, ON, Jan. 24, 2022) – Almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, it is vitally important that we take care of our mental health.
On-again-off-again lockdowns, job uncertainty, economic unrest and ongoing concerns about physical health and the state of the health-care system simply add to the stress and anxiety of everyday life. On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Wednesday, Jan. 26, eight branches of CMHA Ontario – including CMHA North Bay and District – will be hosting two virtual panel discussions. These discussions will feature mental health experts with lived experience talking about ways we can include “hope” in the conversation. This will be followed by a Q&A session.
Since 2010, Canadians and people around the globe have joined in the world’s largest conversation around mental health on Bell Let’s Talk Day. Together we have taken big steps to reduce the stigma around mental health issues and inspire one another to take action and help create a Canada where everyone can access the mental health support they need.
In a recent survey conducted by Nielsen Consumer Insights, 82 per cent of Canadians now say they are now comfortable speaking with others about mental health, compared to only 42 per cent in 2012. By joining in and taking action, we are all helping to make a real difference.
This year’s Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign highlights the ways that we can support ourselves and those we care about through actions like listening, being there and talking. Every Canadian can play a part in their communities, workplaces, schools and at home.
Panelists for the CMHA provincial event, which will be moderated by CMHA Ontario CEO Camille Quenneville, are:
- Morning Panel Discussion — 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Lindsay Kirkland –Youth Mental Health Worker
Don M – Health Equity Consultant
Mitchell Roy – Diversity and Mental Health Volunteer
Phoenix Whittaker – Two-Spirit Outreach Worker
- Evening Panel Discussion — 7 to 8:30 p.m
Chantal Petrella – Mohawk College Professor: Health, Wellness & Fitness
David McGinty – Retired Workplace Wellness Promoter
Kaya Bartlewski – Community Youth Leader
Delaney G.A Drachenberg – Social Equity Activist
Tvisha Injer – Internationally Trained Physician
Prof. Tarek, Abu Noman – Imam, Brantford Mosque
The eight CMHA branches partnering for this event are: Brant Haldimand Norfolk; Champlain East; Grey Bruce; Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge; Hamilton; Lambton Kent; North Bay and District; and Waterloo Wellington.
On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Bell donates 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for every applicable text, local or long distance call, tweet or TikTok video using #BellLetsTalk, every Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube view of the Bell Let’s Talk Day video, and every use of the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook frame or Snapchat lens. All at no cost to participants beyond what they would normally pay their service provider for online or phone access.
You can also find resources, learn more about some of the organizations providing meaningful mental health supports and services throughout Canada and download the Bell Let’s Talk toolkit to begin your own conversation about mental health at home, school or in the workplace.
Please join us this Bell Let’s Talk Day by showing your support for all those who live with mental illness and those taking action to help them.
TO REGISTER FOR THE BELL LET’S TALK CMHA PROVINCIAL EVENT:
Morning panel discussion:
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pj2uZGpGTNuxFEKzehA97w
Evening panel discussion:
7 – 8:30p.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JnOnm0moTtWPxHujPkuzUQ
EVENT POSTER: https://bit.ly/CMHABellLetsTalk