Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Champlain East has received a $20,000 Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant to offer mental health literacy education in schools and the community through the eight-session skill building program ‘Living Life to The Full’.

To date, CMHA Champlain East has provided seven groups of eight sessions to more than 135 people through the evidence-based program for youth and adults ‘Living Life to the Full” – an interactive course that helps participants understand their feelings, thoughts and behaviours, and what to do about them. The program is based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), which allows the learner to understand, reflect and make changes that support optimal health and well-being.

“We appreciate the support of the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund,” said Joanne Ledoux-Moshonas, Executive Director of CMHA Champlain East. “The pandemic has identified several challenges for a number of adults and youth in our community. ”

“People are struggling with increased stress and anxiety, which means building skills in the area or resiliency are in high demand. This funding will allow us to offer the full program, including all materials to participants in schools and community at no cost.”

“Bell Let’s Talk is pleased to support CMHA Champlain East in providing skill- based training to even more students and adults who can benefit from the programing to build,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “The more groups we can offer the more resilient our communities become.”

“This program is based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), which allows the learner to understand, reflect and make changes that support optimal health and well-being.”

The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund provides grants to mental health organizations in communities throughout the country – including those such as CMHA Champlain East – that are working to expand access to mental health care for more people who need support close to home. Bell Let’s Talk promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let’s Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives throughout the country.

To learn more, visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

Established in 1971, CMHA Champlain East is a not-for-profit organization with a volunteer Board of Directors. The branch’s mission is to promote and improve mental health in Champlain East by delivering community-based programs and services to individual living with a severe and persistent mental illnesses or concurrent disorder. For more information, visit www.cmha-east.on.ca