Warning: 500,000 Canadians will miss work tomorrow
Half a million people don't go to work each day in Canada because of mental illness
Tomorrow's Bell Let's Talk Day raises awareness of impact of mental illness on the economy
Send a text or make a long-distance call with Bell to support mental health
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MONTRéAL,
Bell Let's Talk Day is a high-profile anti-stigma effort that is part of the Bell Mental Health Initiative, a five-year, $50-million charitable iniative dedicated to promoting Canadian mental health. For every text message sent and every long distance call made by Bell and Bell Aliant customers on February 9, Bell will donate 5 cents to programs dedicated to mental health. Regular long distance and text message charges apply.
The leading cause of workplace disability
Mental illness is the #1 cause of workplace disability in Canada. In
fact, the Canadian government has reported that every day 500,000
Canadians will miss work due to a mental health related issue. That's
almost three per cent of the work force, and the result is an estimated
total cost to the Canadian economy of $51 billion each year in lost
productivity (according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health),
a terrible cost to the Canadian economy and to all Canadians. That's
why Bell made workplace mental health one of the four pillars of the
Bell Mental Health Initiative.
Bell Let's Talk Day is supported by a national promotional campaign focused on the world-famous smile of Clara Hughes, Canada's six-time Olympic medalist, who relates her own story of depression in the campaign. In advance of Bell Let's Talk Day, Canadians can join Clara in the mental health conversation by visiting bell.ca/letstalk.
Bell is working with corporate Canada and the health care community to develop and adopt mental health best practices in the workplace. At Bell, for example, that includes advanced return-to-work programs and new resources that will make it easier for employees to find information related to mental health. Canadians can learn more about how the Bell Mental Health Initiative will make a difference by visiting bell.ca/letstalk.
About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and
business with solutions to all their communications needs, including
Bell Mobility wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell Satellite TV and
Bell Fibe TV, Bell Home Phone local and long distance, and Bell
Business Markets IP-broadband and information and communications
technology (ICT) services. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE:
BCE). For information on Bell products and services, please visit bell.ca. For BCE corporate information, please visit bce.ca.
/NOTE TO EDITORS: Media Assets accompanying this story are available as follows:
Photo: http://smr.newswire.ca/media/articles/1062/cache/517_x_600_bell-clara-hughes-cell.jpg
Video: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/mmnr/smr/05_Testimony_SD_ProRes.flv
For further information:
Media inquiries:
Albert Lee
Bell Media Relations
(905) 614-6604
albert.lee@bell.ca
SOURCE Community & Sponsorship