Bell Let’s Talk Day:  A message from your Defence Team Mental Health co-Champions

January 28, 2021 - Defence Stories

Team,

Today, Canadians across our country are encouraging one another to speak openly about mental health and mental illness as part of Bell Let’s Talk Day.

As your Defence Team Mental Health co-Champions, we’re inviting all of you to join this important conversation. We think this year it’s especially important, given the stress, uncertainty and - for many of us - increased social isolation that COIVD-19 has added to our lives.

We appreciate that not everyone feels comfortable being open about mental health. It can feel very personal. As a society and as a Defence Team, we’re definitely still working on breaking down the stigma associated with mental illness. At the same time, there are plenty of ways each of us can make even a tangible difference to our collective well-being and, this year especially, every action counts.

So today, we challenge all Defence Team members to take at least one small action in support of mental health. For instance:

Reach out to a buddy, colleague or family member and ask them how they’re holding up.

Listen in to a panel discussion (to be published this afternoon) we three recently filmed along with Chief Warrant Officer Martin Colbert, defence scientist Dr. Carla Sowinski and Canadian Forces Health Services Chief of Psychiatry, LCol Andrea Tuka.

Help support Canadian mental health programs. Today, Bell will donate five cents to support Canadian mental health programs for every text message, mobile, and long distance call made by Bell customers, every tweet or TikTok video using the hashtag #BellLetsTalk, use of the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook frame and Snapchat filter, and every view of the Bell Let’s Talk Day video on social media.

Join in the Defence Team-specific mental health conversation on social media using the hashtag #CAFLetsTalk.

However you choose to be part of the conversation during Bell Let’s Talk Day – both on and off-line – know that your actions are making a difference to reduce the stigma of mental illness in our workplace, our homes and our communities.

We also hope you’ll continue the dialogue about mental health inside and outside of the workplace throughout the year. And remember: if you, or anyone you know, is struggling and don’t know where to turn, help is always available for public service employees and military members and their families.

Jody Thomas
Deputy Minister
Mental Health co-Champion

Lieutenant-General M. N. Rouleau
Vice Chief of the Defence Staff
Mental Health co-Champion

Jerry Ryan
President of the Federal Government Dockyard Trade and Labour Council East
Mental Health co-Champion

What is Bell Let’s Talk Day?

Since its inception in 2010, this annual campaign is dedicated to creating a Canada free from the stigma that surrounds mental illness by building awareness and raising funds for mental health services and programs.

To date, nearly $108 million has been committed to supporting mental health initiatives across the country, with $2.1 million going towards supporting our military families through the Bell True Patriot Love Fund – that’s over 20,000 current and former Defence Team families who have been helped.

Visit the Bell Let’s Talk web site to find out more about how you can be a part of this important conversation.

Related Links

• It’s not too late to have your say during these challenging times (Accessible only on the National Defence network)
• 60 Seconds with Jerry Ryan, employee co-champion for mental health
• Mental health co-Champions Deputy Minister Jody Thomas and Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Michael Rouleau kickoff Bell Let’s Talk Day
• Message from the Prime Minister
• Surgeon General’s message for Bell Let’s Talk 2021
• Minister of National Defence video message for Bell Let's Talk 2021