Bell Event contributes $1.2 Million to Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Oct 12, 2011

 

Bell Let's Talk charity event supports enhanced CAMH care and research initiatives, new Bell Gateway building at the world-leading hospital's campus redevelopment

TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2011 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell announced last night that the 2011 Bell Event in support of CAMH Foundation has contributed $1.2 Million to support new care and research initiatives at the Centre for Addiction Mental Health and the redevelopment of the hospital's Queen Street West site.

"We're proud to stand tonight with our Bell Event sponsors and thousands of guests from across the Canadian spectrum to support CAMH and its world renowned work to transform the lives of people affected by mental illness," said George Cope, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE.

"Everyone at this event is joining and encouraging the conversation about Canadian mental health," said Mary Deacon, Chair of the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative: "Alongside financial support for new research and enhanced care and access, the more we talk about mental illness the more quickly we'll reduce the unique stigma around the disease, a stigma that discourages too many Canadians from seeking the help they need."

The 2011 Bell Event is part of a $10 Million commitment to CAMH supporting enhanced care and vital new research, as well as the hospital's Queen Street West redevelopment. The new Bell Gateway building will serve as a hub bringing together centralized clinical services, outpatient programs, support functions, and services such as a gymnasium and client run café. Bell's support for CAMH is part of Bell's overall 5 year, $50 million Bell Let's Talk initiative.

"Bell's commitment to mental health is helping to change perceptions surrounding mental illness and addictions. The Let's Talk initiative has sparked a national conversation about discrimination and stigma," said Dr. Catherine Zahn, President and CEO, CAMH. "One in five people in Ontario are touched by these illnesses, and we are happy that Bell has stepped up to help CAMH support the people in our community who need it most."

More than 2,000 guests attended the 2011 Bell Event, which was supported by presenting sponsor Samsung; corporate sponsors BMO, BlackBerry, The Firkin Group, Huawei, Visa, and Resource Integrated; and media sponsors the Globe and Mail, CTV, CP24, and CHUM FM.

Bell Let's Talk national spokesperson, Canadian Olympian Clara Hughes, addressed event guests about the impact of the campaign in her own life: "I have received a profound outpouring of support from Canadians for the role I'm playing in Bell Let's Talk, at times it seems even more than for my Olympic participation. It's made me appreciate that my story is helping to make a difference," said Ms. Hughes. "Tonight I want to thank you all for the important role you are playing - your support for CAMH and your willingness to join the conversation about Canadian mental health is making a real difference."

The Let's Talk campaign led by Ms. Hughes includes the annual Bell Let's Talk Day national fundraising event, the first of which took place on February 9, 2011. For each of the more than 66 million text messages sent and long distance calls made by Bell customers that day, Bell donated 5 cents - a total of more than $3.3 Million - to programs dedicated to mental health. The 2012 Bell Let's Talk Day is set for next February 8. To learn more, please visitBell.ca/LetsTalk.

The 5 year, $50 Million Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative is built around 4 action pillars:

1. Anti-stigma: raising awareness, enhancing understanding and reducing stigma around mental illness
2. Care and access: support for a range of new community care and access opportunities with major hospitals as well as local community organizations
3. Research: funding for new research and treatment options
4. Workplace: developing mental health best practices alongside other leading corporations

The facts of mental illness and its impact underscore the need for accelerated support for mental health at all levels in Canada:

• At least 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a form of mental illness at some point in their lives - every one of us has a family member, friend or colleague who will experience mental illness
• Mental health funding is modest relative to other health care issues - mental illness represents 15% of Canada's health care burden but receives just 5% of health care funding
• Just one-third of Canadians who need mental health services actually receive them
• Mental illness is the number one cause of workplace disability in Canada - accounting for 30% of disability claims and 70% of disability costs
• Mental illness costs the Canadian economy $51 billion each year in lost productivity - every day, 500,000 Canadians are absent from work due to a form of mental illness

Leading Canadian health care organizations benefiting from Bell's mental health initiative include CAMH; the RoyalOttawa Hospital, which received a $1 Million donation from Bell to expand the Royal Ottawa Telepsychiatry Program; and the Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital in Montréal. Bell partnered with Fondation Jeunesse-Vie to contribute $1 millioneach to Louis-H. Lafontaine, supporting the hospital's biobank, 24/7 video access to its crisis centre, and enhanced access to care through remote monitoring. Bell is also planning funding announcements with other major Canadian mental health hospitals.

Through the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund, Bell has donated an additional $1 Million this year to almost 50 local organizations, hospitals and agencies improving community mental health services in every Canadian region. Bell has also made significant contributions to Fondation les petits trésors, to provide treatment for young children at Montréal's Rivière-des-Prairies Hospital, and to Fondation des maladies mentales to support its "Partners for Life" program dedicated to teen mental health.

About CAMH
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world's leading research centres in the area of addiction and mental health. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development, prevention and health promotion to transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.

About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and business with solutions to all their communications needs: Bell Mobility wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell Satellite TV and Bell Fibe TV, Bell HomePhone local and long distance, and Bell Business Markets IP-broadband and information and communications technology (ICT) services. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital media, including CTV, Canada's #1 television network, and the country's most-watched specialty channels.

Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For Bell product and service information, please visit Bell.ca. For Bell Media, please visit BellMedia.ca. For BCE corporate information, please visit BCE.ca. 

October 11, 2011 - Toronto, ON - Wade Oosterman, President of Bell Mobility, Bell Residential Services and Chief Brand Officer, announces the Bell Let's Talk fundraising total of $1.2 million at Bell's One Night Under a Blue Sky gala event in Toronto Tuesday evening (CNW Group/BELL CANADA)

 

October 11, 2011 - Toronto, ON - Dr. Catherine Zahn, President and CEO of the CAMH, thanks Bell Canada for their generous support of mental health issues during the One Night Under a Blue Sky gala event in Toronto Tuesday evening (CNW Group/BELL CANADA)

 

October 11, 2011 - Toronto, ON - George Cope, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE, talks about Bell's commitment to supporting mental health issues during the Under a Blue Sky gala event in Toronto Tuesday evening (CNW Group/BELL CANADA)

 

October 11, 2011 - Toronto, ON - Clara Hughes, Canadian Olympian and national spokesperson for Bell Let's Talk, thanks guests of Bell Canada's One Night Under a Blue Sky Event in support of CAMH Tuesday evening in Toronto (CNW Group/BELL CANADA)

 

For further information:

Jason Laszlo
Bell Media Relations
1-855-614-6602
jason.laszlo@bell.ca
@Bell_News