Mental health workshops will be provided free of charge for businesses and organizations in the South and Central Cariboo Chilcotin thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund to the Canadian Mental Health Association Cariboo Chilcotin Branch.
The Bell Let’s Talk Mental Health Workshops will provide local employers and their employees with information, tools and resources needed to increase mental health awareness.
The objective is to reduce stigma in the community by fostering acceptance, comfort and understanding of talking about Mental Health. Awareness leads to prevention and intervention, which increases the wellness of employees and benefits businesses, organizations and the community as a whole.
“We are excited about the new Bell Let’s Talk Mental Health Workshops, as they will reach a large number of community members at their workplace,” says Bettina Egert, Family Counsellor at CMHA CCB.
“The focus of our presentations will be to share information about mental health in the context of living and promoting a healthy lifestyle; providing the connection between physical and mental health, such as how addressing anxiety and stress might be as important as eating a healthy diet and exercising for our overall wellbeing. We would also like to congratulate Bell for renewing Bell Let's Talk for another five years and its new funding commitment of at least $100 million across the country.”
Mental Health issues are a serious health problem in Canada affecting relationships, education, productivity and overall quality of life. Approximately one in five Canadians, or 20 per cent of the population, will experience a mental illness during their lifetimes. Mental illness costs the Canadian economy an estimated $51 billion annually.
Fortunately, the Bell Let’s Talk Mental Health Workshops offer an opportunity for many to improve their own mental health and to support the mental health of their families, friends and colleagues.
“Bell Let’s Talk is very proud to support the Canadian Mental Health Association Cariboo Chilcotin Branch’s Mental Health Workshops,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. “The Bell Let's Talk Community Fund is supporting 55 organizations this year, in every region of the country, all of which are making a difference in the lives of people living with mental illness, and the family and friends who support them. Over the last five years, the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund has invested more than $5 million in hundreds of community programs and services that improve access to mental health care.”
The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns, like Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk and Bell Let's Talk Day, and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research, and workplace programs. On September 22, Bell announced the extension of Bell Let’s Talk for a further five years and an increase in total funding to at least $100 million.
For more information about the Bell Let’s Talk Mental Health Workshop program, contact the Canadian Mental Health Association at cariboo.cmha.bc.ca or call 250-305-4420.
The CMHA Cariboo Chilcotin Branch is a charity that promotes the mental health of all through community-based programs and services, public education and advocacy. It is part of a network of more than 10,000 CMHA volunteers and staff in over 135 communities across Canada. Check out www.cariboo.cmha.bc.ca