Media Advisory - RESCHEDULED: Kids Help Phone and Bell Let's Talk team up to talk to students about mental health

ST. JOHN'S, Feb. 10, 2013 /CNW/ - The Kids Help Phone presentation previously set for Monday, February 11th, will be rescheduled for Wednesday, February 13th at 10 a.m.

Kids Help Phone and Bell Let's Talk are visiting a select number of schools in Canada to talk to young people about mental health and end the stigma around mental illness. 

Who: Special guest Seamus O'Regan and national spokesperson for Bell Let's Talk
Lucas Allard, Clinical Outreach Manager, Kids Help Phone
What:Through presentations and role-play interactions, students will learn to demystify common misconceptions about mental health, understand that many people experience mental health struggles, and learn about essential supports like Kids Help Phone.
Where: St. Peter's Junior High School
100 Munden Drive
Mount Pearl
When:  February 13th, 10:00 a.m.
Why:It is estimated that 10-20% of young people in Canada are affected by a mental illness or disorder - the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide - but only 1 out of 5 youth receives the mental health services they need.

Talking about mental health helps challenge misunderstanding, helps increase the confidence of young people to talk about mental health concerns, and ultimately seek help for whatever issue they may be facing - big or small - as an important part of working towards good mental health.

About Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone is a Canadian and world leader, known for our expertise in providing vital, innovative, and professional counselling services to children and youth. Since 1989 we have offered children, teens and young adults in Canada a critical lifeline of hope and support, through our free, anonymous and confidential service. Our professional counsellors support the mental health and well-being of young people ages five to 20, in urban, rural, and remote communities, by providing one-on-one counselling, information and resources online and by phone. Our internationally recognized, award-winning websites are considered a model of child-focused interactive design, and offer online counseling forums and engaging, therapeutic games, tools and information to encourage resilience and self-care. A community-based national charity, Kids Help Phone receives no core government funding and relies on community and corporate support to keep our essential service available. We're there for the 6.5 million young people in Canada, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in English and in French.

*Source: represents the age group Kids Help Phone serves (from 5 to 20) according to Statistics Canada, 2011 Census of Population.

Bell Let's Talk Day is February 12
For every text message or long distance call made by Bell and Bell Aliant customers and every tweet using #BellLetsTalk and every Facebook share of our Bell Let's Talk message on February 12, Bell will donate another 5 cents to programs dedicated to mental health (regular long distance and text charges apply). Last year's Bell Let's Talk Day raised $3,926,014.20 in additional funding for mental health initiatives across the country.

About Bell Aliant
Bell Aliant (TSX: BA) is one of North America's largest regional communications providers and the first company in Canada to cover an entire city with fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) technology with its FibreOP™ services. Through its operating entities it serves customers in six Canadian provinces with innovative information, communication and technology services including voice, data, Internet, video and value-added business solutions. Bell Aliant's employees deliver the highest quality customer service, choice and convenience.

 

SOURCE: BELL ALIANT INC.


Liz Worth
Communications Coordinator, Kids Help Phone
Phone: (416) 581-8955
liz.worth@kidshelpphone.ca

Rebecca Bell
Community Relations Manager
Bell Aliant
Phone: (709) 739-2571
Rebecca.bell@bellaliant.ca