Bell Let’s Talk Day is Thursday, January 28 and the Canadian Mental Health Association-Champlain East (CMHA) is joining in to help drive progress in mental health.

COVID-19 has affected every aspect of our lives, including our mental health. According to the CMHA, 38 per cent of Canadians say their mental health has declined due to COVID-19, and people already struggling with their mental health were two times more likely to say their mental health has declined due to the pandemic.

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, 83 per cent of Canadians now say they are comfortable speaking with others about mental health, compared to only 42 per cent in 2012.

This year’s Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign shines a light on the actions that we can all take, because now more than ever, mental health matters. Whether you are staying virtually connected with a family member, working directly with patients in recovery, investing in access to care or even just taking care of your own mental health, every Canadian can play a part in their communities, workplaces, schools and at home.

That is why CMHA Champlain East is joining in the 11th annual Bell Let’s Talk Day to help create positive change.

In recognition of Bell Let’s Talk day CMHA Champlain East will be hosting a live event on MS Teams to engage our community in a conversation on mental health, mental illness and stigma.  It takes place at 6:30p.m. on January 28 with special guests Cornwall Mayor Bernadette Clement, Singer/Songwriter Melanie Brulee, Stephen Douris, Ivan Labelle co-founder of MenTALK, Mental Health Advocates Mitch Dubeau, and Chantal Laroque. (Mental Health Advocate). The MS Teams link is available through Eventbrite at https://bellletstalkcmhaeast.eventbrite.com .

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, 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 filter, all at no cost to participants beyond what they would normally pay their service provider for online or phone access.

There are also resources and more information about some of the organizations providing meaningful mental health supports and services throughout Canada available online using the Bell Let’s Talk toolkit for at home, school or in the workplace.  The toolkit is available at https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/toolkit .