Bell Let’s Talk Day

Supporting ourselves and each other.

Bell Let’s Talk Day is Wednesday, January 26 — a day set aside to raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding mental illness.

Since it was launched in 2010, Canadians and people around the globe have joined in the world’s largest conversation around mental health.

At Medavie, we’re excited to help create positive change.

Every Canadian can play a role

This year’s Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign reminds us the importance of supporting ourselves and each other and actions we can all take to be part of change. Whether you’re staying virtually connected with a family member, working directly with patients in recovery, investing in access to care or focused on taking care of your own mental health, every Canadian can play a role in their communities, workplaces, schools and at home. And with the pandemic continuing to take a toll on our lives, now more than ever, every action counts.

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 40% of Canadians say their mental health has deteriorated since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s more, those already struggling are twice as likely to report a negative impact

Reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness

That’s the bad news. The good news is initiatives like Bell Let’s Talk Day are having a positive impact. In a survey conducted by Nielsen Consumer Insights, 83% of Canadians now say they are comfortable speaking with others about mental health, compared to only 42% in 2012.

Have conservations about mental health

Mental illness can still be hard to talk about. That’s why the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) created a Conversation Guide as part of the Bell Let’s Talk Toolkit. The guide provides guidelines on how to have conversations with people you care about and may be concerned about in your workplace, in school or at home.

Ways to help you and others cope with stress

This helpful resource provides additional information and tips about how you can help yourself, your friends, and your family cope with stress and look after their mental health. This includes:

  • Recognizing signs of stress Changes in sleep or eating patterns, difficulty concentrating, worsening of chronic conditions
  • Taking care of yourself – Talking to people you trust, taking a break from the news, looking after your body, sticking to a normal routine as much as possible
  • Taking care of others – Letting family members know it’s ok to be upset or scared, maintaining regular routines, limiting exposure to the news
  • Connecting to help – Reaching out to get expert virtual mental health support
  • Ending stigma Choosing words carefully, carrying out simple acts of kindness and knowing the facts and myths about mental illness

All actions count when it comes to mental health

You can also show your support for all those who live with mental illness, by participating in Bell Let’s Talk Day online activities.

On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Bell donates 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for every applicable text, local or long distance call, tweet or TikTok video, every Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter, using #BellLetsTalk, and YouTube view of the Bell Let’s Talk Day video, and every use of the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook frame or Snapchat filter. These are available at no cost to you beyond standard data, SMS or calling rates.

As Bell Let’s Talk Day reminds us, all actions, big or small, can make a difference in the lives of Canadians.

Let’s keep being there for ourselves and each other.


Our Mission is to Improve the Wellbeing of Canadians.

Medavie is a health company that oversees Medavie Blue Cross and Medavie Health Services. Together, we’re bringing Canadians better health and access to care.