January 26, 2022 is Bell Let’s Talk Day, providing another opportunity to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our lives in many different ways for nearly two years, and it is normal to feel concerned, fatigued or overwhelmed with the quickly changing situation. Now more than ever, we must all join the conversation and support each other – help break the silence on mental health by participating in Bell Let’s Talk Day, which supports mental health programs for the one in five Canadians who experience mental illness each year.
During the Bell Let’s Talk campaign, Bell Canada will donate five cents towards mental health initiatives for every applicable text, call, tweet, TikTok video, social media video view and use of the Facebook frame or Snapchat lens. Since the campaign began in 2010, it has generated more than one billion interactions about mental health and fostered partnerships to help more than 5.5 million Canadians with access to mental health services.
As Bell’s campaign builds on this momentum, I would like to profile some of the supports available in our region.
Resources available in Halton
We can all make a positive difference by talking about wellness and self-care with our family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. I encourage you to take good care of your mental health – even when you feel strong – just as you would take care of your physical health.
If you are looking for information and tips on how build healthy habits and resilience to improve your everyday life, our Mental Health webpage provides information for people of all ages, including links to websites and apps from a wide range of expert agencies and organizations. You can also visit the HRPS Mental Health Support page or the Province’s COVID-19 Support for People page.
If you or someone you love needs assistance, the Halton Region branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) offers free telephone counselling by calling 289-291-5396 as well as other mental health and addiction supports. For children up to the age of 18, the Reach Out Centre For Kids (ROCK) is also available at any time by calling 905-878-9785. If you know someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis, they can reach the Halton Regional Police Service Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST) 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-877-825-9011.
If you need help, please reach out to a loved one or health professional as soon as possible. Please also continue to check in on friends and family, especially those who may be struggling. Remember: a mental health emergency is a medical emergency.
To learn more about Bell Let’s Talk Day and to join the conversation, visit letstalk.bell.ca. When we work together to help one another through difficult times and break the silence on mental health, we make Halton a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire.