“Having so many attend and participate in the event speaks volumes to the dedication and promotion of mental illness in our community.  It was very emotional as I watched so many people display their signs of hope and understanding.  This is a new day for people with mental health issues – congratulations to Bell Aliant.”

-Gail Gardiner, Executive Director, CMHA, NS

 

Listen to stories here.

 

Exerpt from Bell press release, January 16th, 2012 (http://letstalk.bell.ca/resources/media/sections/media/press/BLTD_community_fund_en.pdf):

The Bell Let’s Talk mental health Initiative is built around four action pillars: anti-stigma, care and 

access, research, and workplace best practices. The facts of mental illness and its impact 
underscore the need for accelerated support for mental health at all levels in Canada: 
At least 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a form of mental illness at some point in their lives –
every one of us has a family member, friend or colleague who will experience mental illness
Mental health funding is modest relative to other health care issues – mental illness 
represents 15% of Canada’s health care burden but receives only 5% of health care funding
Just one-third of Canadians who need mental health services actually receive them
Mental illness is the number one cause of workplace disability in Canada – accounting for 
30% of disability claims and 70% of disability costs
Mental illness costs the Canadian economy $51 billion each year in lost productivity – every 
day, 500,000 Canadians are absent from work due to a form of mental illness.