Since 2010, Bell has been working to help increase awareness of mental health and mental illness with the company’s Bell Let's Talk Day on Jan. 26. The media giant has committed $121,373,806.75 in total funding.
On this date, for every applicable text, local or long distance call, tweet or TikTok video using #BellLetsTalk, Bell donates 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs. Bell will also donate 5 cents for every Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, 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. Participants do not pay anything beyond what they would normally pay their service provider for online or phone access.
As part of the telecommunications company’s mental health initiative, its Community Fund provides annual donations of up to $25,000 to charitable organizations to fund mental health services in communities across Canada.
Over the past 12 years, this Community Fund has invested more than $15 million in grants to 888 organizations. These organizations include the Ayalik Fund and the Canadian Canoe Foundation, which offers a nature-based therapy program for young people across Nunavut; Fondation Marie-Vincent, which supports sexually and physically abused children and teens; the Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqaatigiit Embrace Life Council, a suicide prevention organization; Katimavik Youth Services, a volunteering program in Indigenous communities; The Support Network, a crisis phone line for North Central Alberta and many more.
"Working together in communities large and small all around the country, we have made great progress in moving mental health forward and increasing awareness about mental illness,” said Mary Deacon, chair of Bell Let's Talk in a press release.
Bell also supports anti-racism and social justice initiatives via its Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund. This fund supports organizations with projects aiming to reduce the stigma around mental illness and/or increase access to culturally informed mental health and well-being support for members of the Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) communities in Canada.
Preference for this funding will be given to organizations that are led by an individual who is a member of the BIPOC community they support and/or managed by a board, council or executive committee predominantly consisting of individuals who reflect the community they support.
"The past two years have been challenging times for everyone and I encourage all Canadians and people everywhere to join us for the world's biggest conversation about mental health on January 26,” said Mirko Bibic, president and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE.