Today is Bell Let’s Talk Day and we are encouraging our entire WRDSB community to participate with us.

Back in 2011, Bell started a campaign leveraging the popularity of social media. Over the years, it has grown to be internationally recognized with more than $79 million being donated to Canadian mental health initiatives and organizations.

WRDSB senior team participating in #BellLetsTalk.

WRDSB senior team participating in #BellLetsTalk.

Participating is as simple as posting or tweeting, ‘I am participating in #BellLetsTalk Day,’ or ‘Mental health matters to me and I want to be the change that helps #EndTheStigma with #BellLetsTalk,’ just once. We know most people are on social media, so you have the power to help break down the mental health barriers.

Each time the #BellLetsTalk hashtag is used or shared on Twitter or Instagram on January 25, Bell will donate $0.05 cents to various mental health programs.

Mental health touches each and every one of us, whether it is a student or teacher at school, a coworker, a friend or a loved one. The money raised by this one day event will make a massive difference in the lives of people who need it most. You personally don’t have to donate any money to this, just your time.

Today, we ask you to join us on Facebook and Twitter by tweeting, posting, sharing or retweeting what is shared on our various social media channels or participate in your own way. Bell Let’s Talk has great resources on their website. One idea is to download and print the Bell Let’s Talk conversation bubble and write or draw what mental health means to you, or provide words of encouragement that you think people need to hear, and share it. Our hope is that you encourage others around you to also join the online conversation.

Together, we have the power to help end the mental health stigma for our students, friends, loved ones, and everyone else around us.

For more information about resources available to students, please visit our mental health and well-being resource page.