Creating positive change together: A Bell Let’s Talk Day message from your Mental Health Champions

January 25, 2023 - Defence Stories

Join us for today’s virtual and in-person panel discussion at 1 p.m. EST

Defence Team members are encouraged to tune into today’s live virtual panel discussion on mental health featuring us, your three Joint Mental Health Champions, as well as Captain(Navy) Iain Beck, Director Mental Health, and Candice Ross, Interim Director, Anti-Racism Implementation.

We will discuss mental health, the stigma attached to mental illness, and the well-being resources that are available to Defence Team members.

Join and help change the conversation!

Today, we mark Bell Let’s Talk Day. Together, let’s work to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues, inspire one another to take tangible action, and contribute to a Defence Team where any of us can access mental health supports if we want or need to.   

This year’s Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign highlights ways we can all create meaningful change and take action by doing one or more of the following:

• Choose a mental health organization to learn about or support.
• Help a friend, family member, or colleague struggling with their mental health by learning how to support them.
• Ask about how your workplace or community is creating change for mental health.
• Nurture your own well-being by learning and practicing mental health strategies.
• Get involved in a mental health initiative or organize an event to support mental health.
• Engage in conversations about mental health to fight stigma.
• Share your actions using #BellLetsTalk and help inspire others to join the movement to create positive change. 

We encourage all Defence Team leaders, members, and their families to learn how to be more conscious about mental health and to seek help for themselves or their loved ones. The best chance for recovery is seeking care early.

As an organization, through efforts outlined in the Defence Team Total Health and Wellness Strategy (THWS), we continue to work on better supporting the wellness of the Defence Team and strengthening our workforce to best meet the varied challenges of personal and professional lives. 

If you’re going through a difficult time or just not feeling mentally well without really knowing why, please reach out to the Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program or the Employee Assistance Program by calling 1-800-268-7708 | (Teletypewriter) 1-800-567-5803 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They offer support, solutions, and a listening ear: you don’t have to struggle alone; help is always available for you and your families.

Let’s change this. Take action on Bell Let’s Talk Day and all year long.

Your Joint Mental Health Champions,

Bill Matthews

Deputy Minister

LGen Frances Allen

Vice Chief of the Defence Staff

Wanda Boudreau

President of the Federal Government Dockyard Chargehands Association

Here’s how you can get involved

Be kind and listen. Reach out to a friend, family member, or colleague and genuinely ask how they are doing. Simple acts of kindness can help open up the conversation and let someone know you’re there for them.

Join today’s panel event, virtually or in person, featuring the three Joint Mental Health Champions, as well as Captain(Navy) Iain Beck, Director Mental Health, and Candice Ross, Interim Director, Anti-Racism Implementation. They will encourage open discussion around mental health and the stigma attached to mental illness and talk about the well-being resources that are available to Defence Team members.

Panelists will take questions from the in-person and virtual audience submitted via Slido during the event.

• In-person location: National Defence Headquarters (Carling), Building 5 rotunda 
• Slido URL: https://app.sli.do/event/aH9zQwFnoLufvQFQNSN8Bs/live/questions Event code: #DNDBLT
• MS Stream link, viewable only by DND/CAF users on their D365 accounts: https://web.microsoftstream.com.mcas.ms/video/c84a071b-c018-44cf-a0f7-65d0c06e9207
• The video will remain available for viewing on MS Streams after the event is finished.

Help change the conversation on social media using the hashtags #BellLetsTalk and #GCMentalHealth.