Bell Let's Talk supports City of Sault Ste. Marie and Canadian Mental Health Association initiative
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
The City of Sault Ste. Marie, in partnership with the local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, has received a $20,000 grant from the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund. The grant supports the development and maintenance of the City of Sault Ste. Marie First Responder Peer Support Program.
The First Responder Peer Support Program is comprised of representatives from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, Fire Service, Emergency Medical Service, and the local branch of the provincial Central Ambulance Communications Centre
Peer support involves First Responders trained in the delivery of mental health intervention, who provide support to their peers towards the promotion of mental health, resiliency and posttraumatic growth. It is particularly impactful in that it offers collegial support and commonalities in lived experiences, and builds upon pre-existing peer relationships to deliver early intervention.
"On behalf of the City of Sault Ste. Marie, I wish to extend a sincere thank you to Bell Let's Talk for this grant which will allow us to continue to deliver this critical program to our First Responders," says Aldo Iacoe, Health and Safety Coordinator, City of Sault Ste. Marie. "We also thank the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund for its continual efforts in advancing mental health issues across the country and for its support in improving the lives of those in our community."
"Bell Let's Talk is very proud to support the City of Sault Ste. Marie First Responder Peer Support Program in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association," said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "The 2017 Bell Let's Talk Community Fund provided 70 grants to support programs providing mental health services in communities around the country. With our recent announcement about doubling the fund, we look forward to supporting the work of many more programs in 2018 like this important initiative by the City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Canadian Mental Health Association."
Today is Bell Let's Talk Day
Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for each of the following interactions, at no extra cost to participants:
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Text and talk: Every text message, mobile and long distance call made by Bell customers
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Twitter: Every tweet using #BellLetsTalk and Bell Let's Talk Day video view
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Facebook: Every view of Bell Let's Talk Day video at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk and use of the Bell Let's Talk frame
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Instagram: Every Bell Let's Talk Day video view
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Snapchat: Every use of the Bell Let's Talk filter and video view
The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk Day, and provides significant Bell funding for community care and access, research and workplace initiatives. To learn more, please visit
Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Visit
saultstemarie.ca for all your City information.