Let’s Talk is a campaign fronted most visibly by Olympic Champion Clara Hughes and backed by Bell Canada to create a national conversation about mental  health and to reduce or eliminate the stigma that attaches to mental illness.

A poll conducted for the Canadian Medical  Association found that

50% of Canadians will tell a friend that a family  member has a mental illness

72% would disclose a cancer diagnosis.

46% said they think the term “mental  illness” is used as an excuse for bad behaviour.

Clara Hughes

“As someone who has come to know Canadians of all  kinds in every corner of the country, I have seen the prevalence and the  dramatic impact of mental illness on our people,” says Ms. Hughes, the only athlete ever to win multiple  medals in both summer and winter Olympic Games. “And I’ve seen  how much access to mental health care and support means to those who suffer,  Talking about mental illness is the first and best step in ensuring improved  mental health in Canada.”

http://clara-hughes.com/

Meaghan Buisson

This year Meaghan is taking part – if you were at the conference in  November last year then you will certainly remember Meaghan, 47 times national champion and world record holder and founder of BodyWhys Youth Canada.

http://www.getwhys.ca/

media

• http://calgary.ctv.ca/ (right hand side, scroll down until you see “Bell Let’s Talk Promo”)
• http://www.albertaprimetime

Join the conversation

There are stories and interviews and inteative events  in all the media all across Canada all day – for a fuller list of media events to look out for check out this bulletin Canadian Newswire…

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/915385/bell-media-fuels-the-conversation-about-mental-health-in-support-of-bell-let-s-talk-day-feb-8e.com/Headlines.aspx?pd=3303

related

• stephane richler, daryl strawberry, clara hughes http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/1127731–stephane-richer-darryl-strawberry-clara-hughes-tell-michael-landsberg-of-depression-struggle

Related articles

• Clara Hughes conquers the dark weight of depression (theglobeandmail.com)
• Olympian Clara Hughes describes her ‘spiral of darkness’ in mental illness (vancouversun.com)
• Olympian Clara Hughes describes her ‘spiral of darkness’ in mental illness campaign (theprovince.com)
• Olympian Clara Hughes describes her ‘spiral of darkness’ in mental illness campaign (canada.com)
• 5 innovative ways mental health care is more accessible (ctv.ca)
• Healthy minds, healthy profits: A new business imperative (ctv.ca)
• Olympian Clara Hughes describes her ‘spiral of darkness’ (canada.com)