Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Local News

Let's Talk Day raises more than $7.2M

Let's Talk Day raised $7.2 million for mental health initiatives, while reducing the stigmas surrounding mental health
Matthew Gourlie
bell talk day image
Bell Let's Talk logo

On Bell Let's Talk Day, the world of Canadian social media focuses on mental health awareness.

"Any time we talk about mental health and mental illness, it's a good conversation to have," said Donna Bowyer, branch director for the Canadian Mental Health Association, Moose Jaw branch. She said that Let's Talk Day has been great for breaking the stigmas around mental health.

"If we can get rid of that stigma, then it will make giant steps in people not being afraid to help or go for help or any of those things. When we talk about stigma we talk about two things: prejudice and discrimination," Bowyer said.

Bowyer said prejudice often takes the form of people diminishing the effects of mental illness or that even is a real illness.

"They say 'you're doing this to yourself, just get over it' or that they're not really sick and they're just trying to scam everybody and pretend that you're sick to get a day off," Bowyer said. "It also goes the other way where people believe that people with a mental illness are more violent, when the reality is that they are more likely to be the victim. We become afraid of things that we don't understand or that we don't know. So we need to break that stigma."

The Let's Talk Day initiative began in 2011 and passed the one billion mark this year with messages pouring in on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. The 2019 edition of Let's Talk Day gathered 145,442,699 interactions, representing more than $7.2 million in donations. The initiative hit another milestone as they broke the $100 million mark in total money raised.

"I applaud the efforts of the ‘Bell Let’s Talk’ campaign and their efforts to help those who suffer from mental health issues. I also recognize the local efforts of the Canadian Mental Health Association and others to help end the stigma associated with mental health,” said Moose Jaw Mayor Fraser Tolmie.

When asked how people can support their friends and loved ones who are battling mental illness, Bowyer said: 

"Ask them what they need. Say 'what can I do to help?' Make that little extra effort that you would make if you were talking to someone who had a physical health issue. If they had a physical health issue what would you do? And do the same somebody who has a mental health issue, because it's just as debilitating."

And if you are concerned about your mental health, Bowyer recommended that people start by seeing their doctor.

"What I often tell people is to go see your (general practitioner) and get a medical work-up done to make sure that there isn't something physically happening to you that can interfere with your mental health because physical illness and mental illness often go hand-in-hand," Bowyer said.

She suggested that if your physical health is in order then there are avenues to get help. Bowyer recommended starting with using your Employees Assistance Program at work if you have a benefits package through your employer. 

"Talk to somebody. Talk to a friend. Talk to a pastor. Talk to a support group of some kind. And if it gets to the point where you're having thoughts of suicide, take yourself to the hospital or go to a clinic. Go some place and let somebody know how bad you're feeling. It's real. It's not just something that's in your head. It's a real issue and it needs to be dealt with that way."

Some big names in entertainment tweeted out their support for the program: 

Former Moose Jaw Warriors head coach Dave Hunchak, who has had his own battles with depression, tweeted: As did other familiar local names from the past and present:
push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks