This year, Bell Let’s Talk day is taking place three weeks from now, January 28, which just happens to be my big brother’s birthday.
Frequent readers of this page know that, as the son of a child psychiatrist and with two siblings who are clinical psychologists, you could say that mental health is the family business. It is one of the reasons that ever since Bell first announced its commitment to support mental health in September 2010, I have felt a special attachment to support this important initiative, talking openly about what used to be an unmentionable.
The first Bell Let’s Talk Day took place 10 years ago, on February 9, 2011 and it has since grown to be a global phenomenon, with the #BellLetsTalk hashtag trending on social media platforms around the world. Recently, the initiative added new dedicated programs to address the impacts of COVID-19 and systemic racism.
This year, there are even more ways to drive contributions from Bell and add to the conversation:
- Twitter: Each time you tweet and retweet using #BellLetsTalk or watch the official video, Bell will donate 5¢ more towards mental health initiatives.
- Facebook: Each time you use the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook frame or watch the official video, Bell will donate 5¢ more towards mental health initiatives.
- Instagram: Each time you watch the official video on Instagram, Bell will donate 5¢ more towards mental health initiatives.
- Snapchat: Each time you use the Bell Let’s Talk Snapchat filter or watch the official video, Bell will donate 5¢ more towards mental health initiatives.
- YouTube: Each time you watch the official video on YouTube, Bell will donate 5¢ more towards mental health initiatives.
- TikTok: Each time you upload a video using #BellLetsTalk or watch the official video, Bell will donate 5¢ more towards mental health initiatives.
- Pinterest: Each time you watch the official video on Pinterest, Bell will donate 5¢ more towards mental health initiatives.
- Text messages: For every text message sent by a Bell wireless customer, Bell will donate 5¢ more towards mental health initiatives.
Bell Let’s Talk Day 2020 set a new single-day record with 154,387,425 messages across all platforms, growing Bell’s funding for mental health by an additional $7,719,371.25. Since the first Bell Let’s Talk Day in 2011, Canadians and people around the world have sent a total of more than 1.1 billion messages of support for mental health, bringing Bell’s total funding commitment to $113,415,135 (including Bell’s original $50 million anchor donation in 2010, and an additional $5 million dedicated to COVID-19 response).
On January 28, Bell Media plans to feature special mental health content in English and French across its TV, radio and digital properties as part of the Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign.
To drive progress and awareness in mental health issues, Bell made reducing stigma the first pillar of its program. Thinking back to when it began, there were very few corporate brands willing (or able) to support a cause like mental health. For ten years now, Bell’s prime community investment focus and the majority of its charitable spending has been dedicated to the promotion and support of mental health across Canada. It is great to see Bell’s competitors step up to add their support on social media channels.
Mark the date, January 28, 2021 in your calendar. And add #BellLetsTalk to all of your tweets to show your support.