LET’S TALK ABOUT “BELL LETS TALK”
We might be a bit biased here, but we obviously feel that talking about mental health is incredibly important. There has been a definite improvement around people’s understanding of mental health and normalizing the mental health struggles that individual experiences. Bell’s mental campaign has gained significant traction over the years and has garnered a huge following. This year will mark 8 years since Bell started the “Lets Talk” campaign, and in that time the stigma around mental health has decreased, however it still remains a taboo topic for many.
People fear that if they acknowledge that their mental health is suffering they will be seen as “crazy” or weak by others, and sadly they do not reach out for support and are not able to access vital and necessary services. The reality is most people will be impacted by mental illness at some point in their life. Unfortunately, many people who have mental health difficulties feel like they are alone in their experiences and are reluctant to reach out for support. According to Statistics Canada, 1 in 5 Canadians will personally experience a mental health problem or illness every year. This simple statistics highlights why it is so important to bring the discussion about mental health to people’s attention. By learning and talking about mental health, we are able to normalize it, and provide necessary education on how to improve mental health and reducing the stigma around mental illness.
“Bell Lets Talk” day, is a great way to get the conversation started, and to remind us to be mindful of the internal struggles that the people around us may be going through. The more we understand about mental health, the more supportive we can be to our friends and family with mental health difficulties. As the awareness increased, those with mental illness may feel more comfortable and open with reaching out for support and getting the help they need. On January 30th, we invite all of you to join the conversation and educate yourself and those around you about mental health!
#BellLetsTalk
