Bell Let’s Talk Day raised over $6.1 million for mental health initiatives

Bell owned the internet and phone lines yesterday with its annual “Let’s Talk” initiative. The company donated 5¢ for every text message, wireless and long distance call made (by Bell Canada and Bell Aliant customers), every tweet using #BellLetsTalk, and every Facebook share with the Bell Let’s Talk Day image.

The goal is to reduce the stigma around mental health and donate money to fund various programs. Since launching in 2010, Let’s Talk has raised $67,515,875 and last year saw a record $5,472,585.90. Bell was on the prowl to increase the awareness and also increase the dollar amount raised. The world responded.

Bell noted in a release that a record 122,150,772 million tweets, texts, calls were shared yesterday for Let’s Talk Day, which raised a respectable $6,107,538.60 for mental health initiatives.

George Cope, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE, said, “we know that mental illness touches all of us in some way, that it has a powerful impact on individual lives, on families, on our entire national economy. We’re grateful that Canadians have embraced the mental health cause, with a level of engagement in this year’s Bell Let’s Talk Day and the anti-stigma message that was truly remarkable. As the top Twitter trend on the planet, with messages of support and hope from people around the globe, and the endorsement of international leaders and celebrities, this year’s Bell Let’s Talk Day really showed that there is universal desire for action in mental health.”