Bell Let's Talk today announced the expansion of its national mental health campaign to 128 campuses nationwide, representing a student population of more than a million.
Moving into the broader campus community, the campaign builds on the success of 2017's university initiative when more than 20,000 student-athletes from 53 universities led the campus mental health conversation at more than 100 university sports events leading up to Bell Let's Talk Day.
"The student-athlete initiative clearly showed that mental health is a priority for students on Canadian campuses. This year, we're building on that momentum as we expand the conversation to 128 universities and colleges throughout the country," said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "On January 31, we encourage all students around the country to join in, share their own stories and help fight the stigma around mental illness."
As a national day to spark the conversation about mental health, Bell Let's Talk Day can help student services departments showcase various mental health programs already offered on campus, while also helping schools achieve their own mental health goals. More than 150 on-campus conferences and other events are planned already, including participation by student-athletes who are helping spread the conversation again this year at more than 100 varsity and collegiate games leading up to Bell Let's Talk Day.
"Our focus on enriching the overall academic experience of our student-athletes is core to the support we offer across campuses," said Joel Mrak, Vice President, Marketing at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association. "The mental health leadership through the Bell Let's Talk initiative will continue to have a tremendous impact for these students, and we're proud to be a part of the growing conversation."
Bell Let's Talk Day is January 31
We invite everyone to join the mental health conversation on Bell Let's Talk Day. Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for each of these interactions on January 31, at no extra cost to participants:
- Text and talk: Every text message, mobile and long distance call made by Bell Canada, Bell Aliant and Bell MTS customers
- Twitter: Every tweet using #BellLetsTalk and Bell Let's Talk Day video view
- Facebook: Every view of the Bell Let's Talk Day video at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk and use of the Bell Let's Talk frame
- Instagram: Every Bell Let's Talk Day video view
- Snapchat: Every use of the Bell Let's Talk filter and video view
Bell Let's Talk Day 2017 set all new records with 131,705,010 messages, growing Bell's funding for Canadian mental health by $6,585,250.50. #BellLetsTalk was Canada's top hashtag in 2017, and is now the most used Twitter hashtag ever in Canada.
With approximately 729,065,654 interactions by Canadians over the last 7 Bell Let's Talk Days, Bell's total commitment to mental health, including an original $50-million anchor donation in 2010, has risen to $86,504,429.05. Bell expects its donation commitment to reach at least $100 million in 2020. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Participating CCAA universities and colleges:
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PACWEST (BC) Camosun College Capilano University College of the Rockies Columbia Bible College Douglas College Langara College Quest University Canada Vancouver Island University RSEQ (QC) Champlain St. Lawrence Champlain Saint-Lambert Cégep Limoilou Collège Montmorency Vanier College ACAA (NB, NS, PE) Crandall University Dalhousie Agricultural Campus Holland College Mount Allison University Mount Saint Vincent University St. Thomas University University of King's College University of New Brunswick Saint John |
ACAC (AB, SK) Ambrose University Briercrest College & Seminary Concordia University of Edmonton Grande Prairie Regional College Keyano College The King's University Lakeland College Lethbridge College MacEwan University Medicine Hat College NAIT Olds College Portage College Red Deer College SAIT St. Mary's University University of Alberta Augustana |
OCAA (ON) Algonquin College Cambrian College Canadore College Centennial College Conestoga College Confederation College Durham College Fleming College George Brown College Georgian College Humber College Lakehead University Orillia Laurier University Brantford Loyalist College Mohawk College Niagara College Redeemer University College St. Lawrence College Brockville St. Lawrence College Cornwall St. Lawrence College Kingston Sault College Seneca College Sheridan Institute of Technology University of Toronto Mississauga |
