In 2010, Bell Canada began a simple campaign to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental illness, with their #BellLetsTalk campaign. Mental illness is an issue that is very near and dear to my heart (especially since I'm on my way to becoming a psychotherapist). I've heard all the criticisms of this campaign, and the focus on Corporate Greed and so on, but I choose to focus on the positives - and that is, by 2020, Bell projects to donate over $100 million to mental health organizations across Canada. That sounds pretty darn good to me.

So, let's talk.

Let's talk about getting equal access to mental health services, across Canada. From the smallest community to the largest city. Let's talk about how desperately we need publicly funded access to mental health services. Let's talk about inclusivity, and extending an empathetic hand to our neighbour who might have an invisible illness. 

And just for a moment, I'd like to talk about me.

I'd like to talk about how taking that first scary step in emailing my therapist, one lonely day in 2016, was the bravest and best thing I've ever done in my entire life. I'd like to talk about how I wouldn't be the person I am today without his influence in my life. I'd like to talk about how one day, I hope to have that same effect on someone that I haven't met yet. 

Got something to say? Comment below, and let's talk.

Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for each of these interactions on January 31:
• Text and talk: Every text message, mobile and long distance call made by Bell Canada, Bell Aliant and Bell MTS customers
• Twitter: Every tweet using #BellLetsTalk and Bell Let’s Talk Day video view
• Facebook: Every view of the Bell Let’s Talk Day video and use of the Bell Let’s Talk frame
• Instagram: Every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view
• Snapchat: Every use of the Bell Let’s Talk geofilter and video view