Players, teams talk about mental health for #BellLetsTalk Day

"If you're not ok, it's ok!"

Boston Bruins forward Nick Foligno tweeted that and more, and others around the NHL are continuing the conversation about mental health on Bell Let's Talk Day.

Bell Let's Talk Day aims to raise awareness and fight the stigma surrounding mental illness. Throughout Wednesday, Canadian telephone company Bell will donate 5 cents toward mental health initiatives for every text, call or social media post using #BellLetsTalk. Teams and players posted throughout the day to raise money for the 1,300 mental health organizations -- hospitals, universities, local community service providers, etc. -- benefitted by Bell's donations.
On Bell Let's Talk Day, the Washington Capitals are also hosting their Hockey Talks Mental Health Awareness Night against the San Jose Sharks at Capital One Arena.
The Hockey Talks Mental Health Awareness initiative began in 2013, two years after Vancouver Canucks player Rick Rypien died by suicide. The Capitals are among 14 NHL teams hosting Hockey Talk nights this season.

This Bell Let's Talk Day also looks at the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and how people can recognize and cope with stressors from it. Here are ways the
Canadian Psychological Association
recommends coping with stress:
1. Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Try to eat well-balanced meals, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep.
2. Connect with your community. Talk with people you trust about how you are feeling. Let those close to you share their concerns. Most importantly, accept support.
3. Maintain as normal a routine as possible.
4. Take breaks from pandemic-focused media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting, so turn off, stop reading or stop listening to news stories, including social media, when it gets overwhelming.
5. Focus on what you can control.

For more information about help centers, taking care of others and how to help end the stigma around mental health, visit
letstalk.bell.ca
.