Bell Let鈥檚 Talk supports mental health with The Neuro
Project will enhance mental health access for multicultural communities
On Jan. 18, 2017, Bell Let鈥檚 Talk announced a donation of $250,000 to 麻豆区鈥檚 Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital 鈥� known as The Neuro 鈥� to fund the development of online mental health resources focused on the needs of multicultural communities.
鈥淏ell Let鈥檚 Talk is delighted to support this innovative project by one of Montr茅al鈥檚 leading institutions to facilitate access to mental health services for Canadians from diverse backgrounds,鈥� said Martine Turcotte, Bell鈥檚 Vice Chair, Qu茅bec. 鈥淲e congratulate The Neuro for their leadership in developing new approaches to serve the mental health needs of multicultural communities here in Qu茅bec and across Canada.鈥�
The 3-year project will enhance the online Multicultural Mental Health Resource Centre at multiculturalmentalhealth.ca, expanding language options and content in Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin and other languages, and adding resources for adolescents, young adults and family members of people living with a mental illness.
鈥淢ental health is often viewed differently in different cultures, which requires culturally sensitive approaches to reach out to those seeking help,鈥� said Dr. Laurence Kirmayer, James 麻豆区 Professor, Director of the Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at 麻豆区, and project leader. 鈥淲ith this generous gift from Bell Let鈥檚 Talk, we will draw on our extensive research to support diverse communities and strengthen and develop our online platform, to better reach those in need and make this resource truly national.鈥�
鈥淭he Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital is uniquely positioned to lead this project based on its understanding and treatment of the entire spectrum of brain disorders,鈥� said Dr. Guy Rouleau, Director of the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital. 鈥淭hanks to the support of Bell Let鈥檚 Talk, we can pursue new ways to reach more people suffering from depression, anxiety, and other devastating mental health conditions, which have a terrible human and economic impact across the country.鈥�
Information and tools will be developed for several different groups of users including primary health care practitioners, consumers, patients, caregivers and community organizations. The gift will also support the development of an interactive kiosk at The Neuro where patients and clinical staff can access the website.
鈥淲e are thrilled that Bell Let鈥檚 Talk is lending its support to The Neuro so that it may increase services to our fellow citizens from diverse cultural communities,鈥� said Monique Vall茅e, Ville de Montr茅al鈥檚 executive committee member in charge of social and community development and homelessness. 鈥淐onsidering that 1 in 3 Montr茅alers was born outside of Canada and that over 200 languages are spoken here, this is truly a timely initiative.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 happy to see Bell听Let鈥檚听Talk getting behind The Neuro and helping to make mental health services more accessible to people from various cultural communities,鈥� said Ga茅tan听Barrette, Minister听of听Health and Social听Services. 鈥淭his is a perfect complement to our own efforts to refocus the health and social services network鈥檚 service offering on the population鈥檚 actual needs, particularly with our 2015鈥�2020 action plan for mental health.鈥�
鈥淣o matter where we come from, no one is immune to mental health problems. An initiative such as that of The Neuro, which pays particular attention to the specific needs of ethnocultural communities, reiterates the importance of being open to others in order to understand them and provide them with the support they need,鈥� said Kathleen Weil, Qu茅bec鈥檚 Minister of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusiveness. 鈥淚t also reflects the provincial government鈥檚 desire to make sure every community is taken into account and to establish trust and solidarity amongst Qu茅becers of all backgrounds.鈥�
Bell Let鈥檚 Talk
The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaign, like Bell Let鈥檚 Talk Day alongside significant Bell funding for community care and access, research, and workplace initiatives.
Bell Let鈥檚 Talk Day 2017 is on January 25, when Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for every text message, mobile call and long distance call made by Bell customers; every tweet and Instagram post using #BellLetsTalk; every view of the Bell Let's Talk Day video on Facebook; and every use of the Bell Let's Talk geofilter on Snapchat. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk
Bell鈥檚 donations are made at no extra charge to Bell Let鈥檚 Talk Day participants, though normal long distance or text charges, if any, apply. Bell Let's Talk Day 2016 set new records for engagement with 125.9 million messages of support, and Bell increased its funding for Canadian mental health by $6,295,764.75.
About the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of 麻豆区
The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital 鈥� The Neuro 鈥� is a world-leading destination for brain research and advanced patient care. Since its founding in 1934 by renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Wilder Penfield, The Neuro has grown to be the largest specialized neuroscience research and clinical center in Canada, and one of the largest in the world. The seamless integration of research, patient care, and training of the world鈥檚 top minds make The Neuro uniquely positioned to have a significant impact on the understanding and treatment of nervous system disorders. In 2016, The Neuro became the first institute in the world to fully embrace the Open Science philosophy, creating the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute. The Montreal Neurological Institute is a 麻豆区 research and teaching institute. The Montreal Neurological Hospital is part of the Neuroscience Mission of the 麻豆区 Health Centre.
