The 2017 Bell Let’s Talk campaign moves to its next phase today with all-new TV and radio spots encouraging everyone to join the conversation on Bell Let’s Talk Day, January 25.
The new ads feature national spokesperson Clara Hughes asking fellow Bell Let’s Talk team members Étienne Boulay, Marie-Soleil Dion, Michael Landsberg, Howie Mandel, Michel Mpambara, Stefie Shock and Mary Walsh if they’re ready for January 25 — and asking everyone across Canada to prepare to get engaged by talking, texting and joining the conversation on social media.
“The momentum in Canadian mental health we’ve all created together is truly incredible. But the stories of struggle we hear every day also make it clear that we have so much more to do. Let’s all get ready to roll on January 25 with the messages of support that show mental health is on everyone’s mind,” said Clara, Canada’s 6-time Olympic medalist and Bell Let’s Talk spokesperson since the launch of the initiative in 2010. “Talking about mental illness has helped to reduce the stigma around this critical national health concern and resulted in real action in research, workplace mental health and access to care. Remember, your calls, texts and social media messages on January 25 will drive Bell’s funding of mental health programs all year round, at no added cost to you. Let’s get ready to talk!”
The first phase of the Bell Let’s Talk Day 2017 campaign began December 26 with promotional spots on multiple TV networks, online and out of home, and in Cineplex and Guzzo theatres and at Hot Docs. All of this year’s campaign videos can be found on the enhanced Bell.ca/LetsTalk website along with improved new tools and resources to help your own mental health conversation.
Join the conversation and drive Bell’s funding of mental health
On January 25, Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for each of these interactions made that day:
- Every text message, mobile call and long distance call made by Bell Canada and Bell Aliant customers
- Every tweet using #BellLetsTalk
- Every view of the Bell Let’s Talk Day video on Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk
- Every Instagram post using #BellLetsTalk
- Every use of the Bell Let’s Talk geofilter on Snapchat
Bell’s donations are made at no extra charge to Bell Let’s Talk Day participants. Normal long distance or text charges, if any, apply.
Bell Let’s Talk Day 2016 set new records with 125.9 million messages of support, growing Bell’s funding for Canadian mental health by $6,295,764.75. #BellLetsTalk was the #1 Twitter hashtag in Canada for all of 2016, and the most used in the world on Bell Let’s Talk Day 2016.
With its original anchor donation of $50 million and the results of the first 6 Bell Let’s Talk Days, Bell’s total commitment to mental health now stands at $79,919,178.55, and is expected to surpass $100 million in 2020.
5 simple ways to help end the stigma
You can help end the stigma around mental illness with 5 simple ways developed by Dr. Heather Stuart, the Bell Mental Health and Anti-Stigma Research Chair at Queen’s University:
- Language matters – pay attention to the words you use about mental illness
- Educate yourself – learn, know and talk more, understand the signs
- Be kind – small acts of kindness speak a lot
- Listen and ask – sometimes it’s best to just listen
- Talk about it – start a dialogue, break the silence
