Leading up to Bell Let’s Talk Day on January 30, university and college students in every province and territory are promoting campus mental health programs with guest speakers, conferences, information kiosks, and varsity and collegiate athletic events.
The UNB Reds are proud to be hosting one of more than 340 events taking place at 205 schools.
The Reds women’s hockey team will host l’Universitè de Moncton Aigles Bleues on January 30th, in a 7:00pm at UNB’s Aitken Centre.
On the same night, the Reds men’s hockey team will visit Moncton to face les Aigles Bleus.
The students in attendance at all Bell Let’s Talk Day games will be part of the world’s biggest mental health conversation while learning more about resources available to them on campus.
Now reaching a national post-secondary student population of 1.6 million, the Bell Let’s Talk campus campaign has been encouraging student-led mental health conversations since it began in 2016 as a student-athlete initiative at the eleven Atlantic University Sport schools, including the University of New Brunswick.
The program grew to 100 varsity games at 53 universities in 2017, and last year expanded into the broader campus community with events at 128 universities and colleges.
“With more than 200 universities and colleges part of the campaign this year, it’s clear that post-secondary students in Canada have taken a real leadership role in the mental health conversation,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “These hundreds of student-led initiatives are growing awareness of both the impact of mental illness and the resources students can turn to for support, helping to ensure a psychologically healthy and safe environment on campus.”
“We are pleased that the Bell Let’s Talk campaign continues to expand to more universities and colleges across Canada,” said Jennifer Hamilton, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS). “The membership of CACUSS is committed to working with organizations like Bell to end stigma and promote wellness education efforts on campus.”
“To see our students-athletes stepping up and taking part in our Bell Let’s Talk Day events over the years has been inspiring,” said John Richard, UNB’s Director of Athletics. “They genuinely care for each other, and about their fellow students. They’re open to talking and listening, anything that will help someone through what might be a difficult time.”
“These events really encourage the conversation, about mental health issues, to take place,” said Richard. “That conversation is highlighted on Bell Let’s Talk Day, but it continues here throughout the year.”
To see a complete list of participating universities and colleges please click here.
According to Canada’s most recent National College Health Assessment Survey in 2016, 32% of students were diagnosed or treated for anxiety or depression in the previous year.
On January 30, Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for each of the following interactions, at no extra cost to participants beyond what they would normally pay their service provider for online or phone access:
- Talk: Every mobile and every long-distance call made by Bell wireless and phone customers
- Text: Every text message sent by Bell wireless customers
- Twitter: Every tweet and retweet using #BellLetsTalk, featuring the special Bell Let’s Talk emoji, and every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view at Twitter.com/Bell_LetsTalk
- Facebook: Every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk and every use of the Bell Let’s Talk frame
- Instagram: Every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view at Instagram.com/Bell_letstalk
- Snapchat: Every use of the Bell Let’s Talk filter and every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view