Bell has announced the launch of the Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund to support Canadian colleges and universities in implementing the National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students. Post-secondary institutions can now apply for a kickoff grant to cover start-up costs associated with implementing the Standard, followed by the opportunity to seek funding for specific student mental health initiatives this spring.
“Bell is building on our long-standing commitment to student mental health with the launch of the Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “Supporting post-secondary institutions seeking to implement the Standard and create new action programs, the fund is focused on accelerating the progress these schools have made in enabling the mental health of students throughout Canada.”
Bell Let’s Talk funding helped enable the creation of the Standard, led by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) in partnership with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). The Standard provides a set of guidelines for post-secondary student mental health that helps increase awareness, reduce stigma, improve life and resiliency skills, and create a healthier and safer educational environment overall.
Most students enrolled in Canadian post-secondary institutions are age 24 or under, the demographic most susceptible to developing mental health issues: 75% of people with a mental illness were first diagnosed by the age of 24.
“The Post-Secondary Fund means Canadian colleges and universities can immediately start the process of implementing the important mental health recommendations outlined in the Standard,” said Jennifer Hamilton, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS). “Bell’s leadership in advancing student mental health has had a powerful effect on campuses across the country. Students year over year are more aware, educated and inclined to ask for help.”
“The mental health and well-being of our student population is a top priority and we are very enthusiastic to work towards the implementation of the new Standard which is aligned with the College’s actions in terms of health, wellness and success,” said Guy Dumais, Executive Director at Montréal’s Collège Bois-de-Boulogne. “We were very pleased to learn of this new funding for post-secondary institutions and plan to immediately apply for a grant to enhance and accelerate our deployment plans.”
The Post-Secondary Fund will help universities and colleges build on their existing efforts to support student mental health by implementing the Standard’s framework. Covering initial costs associated with adopting the Standard, the kickoff grants are intended to encourage as many institutions as possible to be early adopters. The application period closes February 26.
This spring, Bell Let’s Talk will launch a second phase of the Post-Secondary Fund for institutions that have used the Standard to identify specific gaps or needs in their mental health support services and built new initiatives to address them.
Bell Let’s Talk Day is January 28
On Bell Let’s Talk Day January 28, Canadians everywhere will join in the global mental health conversation. You can use a wide range of communications platforms to join in – and directly drive Bell’s donations to Canadian mental health programs simply by participating.
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.
About Bell Let’s Talk
The largest-ever corporate commitment to mental health in Canada, Bell Let’s Talk is focused on 4 key action pillars: Anti-stigma, Care and Access, Research and Workplace Leadership. Since its launch in September 2010, Bell Let’s Talk has partnered with more than 1,100 organizations providing mental health supports and services throughout Canada, including hospitals, universities, local community service providers and other care and research organizations. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
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Source: Bell Media
https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/news/1262/bell-lets-talk-launches-post-secondary-fund-to-enhance-student-mental-health
*Photos are from the 2020 Campaign
