On January 31st, Bell Let’s Talk, an initiative sponsored by Bell Media in Canada, opened up the conversation on social media regarding mental health and wellness. The annual event encourages people to use the #BellLetsTalk hashtag across social media, with 5 cents being donated for every use, and this year was a record breaker:
A new @Bell_LetsTalk Day record! 138,383,995 messages of support for #mentalhealth means @Bell will invest a further $6,919,199.75 in Canadian mental health. https://t.co/tWyLIhGoad #BellLetsTalk
— Media Relations (@Bell_News) February 1, 2018
But the efforts don't stop there - many make the case that the conversation and support should keep rolling all year round, and so we wanted to compile a few worthy nonprofits and charities that focus on mental health!
If #BellLetsTalk made a difference to you, here's where you can do more:
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
What it is: This Canada-based voluntary organization provide services and supports to more than 1.3 million Canadians through the combined efforts of more than 11,000 volunteers and staff in over 330 communities. The services they provide are tailored to the needs and resources of these individual communities, but all with the core goal to help people with mental illness develop the personal tools to lead meaningful and productive lives.
How to help: Ride Don't Hide is CMHA's annual fundraising event and the largest mental health-supporting bike ride in Canada! More than 7,000 riders take part to raise money and awareness for mental illnesses - this year's event is June 24th and looking to be bigger and more impactful than ever.
Kids Help Phone
What it is: Kids Help Phone is Canada's only national 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone counselling, web counselling and referral service for children and youth. Whether it's bullying, troubles at home, relationships, or deeper issues, this service allows youth to be completely anonymous if they need someone to talk to. Once solely a phone line, they've since branched out into online live chats and apps as well.
How to help: Walk So Kids Can Talk is a fun 5K walk that takes place across Canada to raise money so kids have access to help and counselling wherever and whenever they need it. This year's event takes place on May 6th.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
What it is: CAMH is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world's leading research centres in the area of addiction and mental health. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues.
How to help: UnMasked is the annual CAMH fundraising gala, where art galleries host intimidate dinner parties featuring menus created by Toronto's most celebrated chefs. To date, UnMasked has raised more than $5 million to support research into mental illness.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
What it is: NAMI is the United States' largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. They help shape national public policy for people with mental illness and their families and provides volunteer leaders with the tools, resources and skills necessary to save mental health in all states.
How to help: NAMIWalks are 5K walks that take place in various cities across the United States. In 2017, more than 50 thousand people in more than 80 communities walked together to raise awareness of mental illness and raise funds for local, regional and state NAMI organizations.
Mental Health America (MHA)
What it is: MHA is the United States' leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all Americans. They have over 200 affiliates in 41 states, 6,500 affiliate staff and over 10,000 volunteers.
How to help: Mental Health America Hill Day in Washington, DC is on Tuesday June 12th this year, and is an occasion when MHA advocates ask select Members of Congress and the Senate to make brief remarks based on their exemplary leadership in advancing legislation that promotes and protects the behavioral health of Americans.
Got any other suggestions for mental health charities and initiatives? Let us know on Twitter so we can give them a highlight!
