Joining forces with the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs, the Montreal Canadiens reiterate their commitment to build awareness among their fans about mental health, while also providing information on treatments available to aid in recovery.
Tonight, the Montreal Canadiens are dedicating their home game against the Calgary Flames to the Hockey Talks program. Prior to the game, players' wives, along with Marie-Soleil Dion, Michel Mpambara, Stefie Shock and assistant captain for the Concordia Stingers, Philippe Hudon, will distribute bracelets in support of tomorrow's Bell Let's Talk Day. Patients from Déclic and the Child Psychiatry Centre from the Jewish General Hospital will be honoured guests for the evening and will attend the game in the RDS and the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation's suites. Players will wear the Hockey Talks decal on the back of their helmets in support of the cause and will also engage conversion about mental health on social media.
TOMORROW IS BELL LET'S TALK DAY
Tomorrow, Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for every text message, mobile call and long-distance call made by Bell customers, every tweet and Instagram post using #BellLetsTalk, every view of the Bell Let's Talk Day video on Facebook and every use of the Bell Let's Talk geofilter on Snapchat. Bell Let's Talk now has its own hashtag emoji on Twitter. Whenever you type #BellLetsTalk in Twitter, the logo automatically appears at the end of the hashtag. Bell's donations are made at no extra charge, though normal long distance or text charges, if any, apply. Bell Let's Talk Day 2016 set new records for engagement with 125.9 million messages of support, and Bell increased its funding for Canadian mental health by $6,295,764.75.
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
One in five Canadians will suffer from mental illness at some point in their lifetime. One of the biggest hurdles for anyone suffering from mental illness is overcoming the stigma. It is the number one reason why two thirds of those living with a mental illness do not seek help. This is why we need to end stigma by choosing the right words, learning about the facts and myths surrounding mental illness, showing compassion and being a good listener and finally, by engaging the discussion with others.
