Four local groups receive grants from the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund

QUÉBEC CITY, Oct. 30, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell Let's Talk today announced 2018 Community Fund grants to 4 mental health organizations to improve access to care for people living in the Capitale-Nationale community.

Québec City Mayor Régis Labeaume joined Martine Turcotte, Bell's Vice Chair, Québec, to make the announcement.

"All of us can help people with mental health issues by setting aside our prejudices and listening compassionately," said Mr. Labeaume. "I would like to thank Bell Let's Talk for encouraging these conversations and for generously supporting mental health organizations like these. Every dollar brings hope."

"Bell Let's Talk is proud to support these organizations working within the Capitale-Nationale community to help address mental health challenges at the local level," said Ms. Turcotte. "The Bell Let's Talk Community Fund is aiding 47 organizations across Québec this year, each one improving access to mental health services in their communities."

Receiving grants totalling $78,000, the 2018 Bell Let's Talk Community Fund recipients in the Capitale-Nationale region are:

• Communautés Solidaires
• Deuil-Jeunesse
• Le Verger centre communautaire en santé mentale
• Organisation communautaire d'écoute et d'aide naturelle (OCÉAN)

"On behalf of Deuil-Jeunesse and our fellow Community Fund recipients, I would like to thank Bell Let's Talk for recognizing the value of our projects, all of which seek to improve the mental health of our clients," said Josée Masson, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Deuil-Jeunesse. Our collective cause, providing people in our community with daily support, is very dear to our hearts. Thanks to this support, we are able to help children, teens, adults and seniors in difficult circumstances smile again as they begin their recovery."

About Bell Let's Talk
The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care, research and workplace leadership initiatives. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

The $2-million annual Bell Let's Talk Community Fund supports community-based mental health initiatives that improve access to care throughout Canada. Each year, registered charities can apply for a grant of up to $25,000, and all submitted applications are reviewed by a committee of mental health experts from across the country. Applications for the 2019 fund will open in January.

About Bell
Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing innovative broadband wireless, TV, Internet and business communication services across the country. Bell Media is Canada's leading content creation company with premier assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (((TSX, NYSE:BCE). To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.

Bell Let's Talk Community Fund 2018 recipients – Capitale-Nationale region

Communautés Solidaires 
Québec City
The Bell Let's Talk donation supports a new intervention program called Entraid'aînés, intended to help vulnerable seniors stay at home longer. It seeks to counter the isolation and psychological distress often experienced by seniors by providing home visits and driver companions to help improve their personal, social and financial well-being.

Deuil-Jeunesse 
Charlesbourg
Deuil-Jeunesse will invest Bell Let's Talk funding in phone interventions to help people going through difficult times such as the loss of a family member by providing mental health support. The organization works daily with young people struggling with anxiety, guilt, depression and suicidal thoughts following the death of a family member.

Le Verger centre communautaire en santé mentale 
Québec City
To provide more assistance to its residents, the centre will invest its Bell Let's Talk grant in hiring a life skills coach who will help residents gain the knowledge and skills required to function in society and practice these skills in a safe environment before reintegration.

Organisation communautaire d'écoute et d'aide naturelle (OCÉAN) 
Québec City
Bell's funding supports the PRISME initiative, which provides targeted services to reduce the incidence of mental disorders such as anxiety and depression in students aged 11 to 17 at Joseph-François-Perrault School. Counsellors will guide students through prevention workshops, provide training for teachers, parents and stakeholders, and develop assessments and recommendations to foster good mental health in the school environment.

Media inquiries:

Vanessa Damha
Bell
514-870-6663
vanessa.damha@bell.ca 
@Bell_News
@Bell_LetsTalk

Josée Masson
Deuil-Jeunesse
Spokesperson for the 4 Bell Let's Talk Community Fund recipients
418-624-3666
info@deuil-jeunesse.com

SOURCE Bell Canada

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