Applications now open for the 2015 Bell Let's Talk Community Fund

• $1 million annual fund helps community mental health organizations across Canada
• More than 200 grants made to groups in every region of the country since 2011
• Apply on line at Bell.ca/LetsTalk

MONTREAL, Jan. 22, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today kicked off the $1-million annual Bell Let's Talk Community Fund for 2015. Applications are now being accepted for grants from $5,000 up to $50,000 for community-based mental health initiatives from coast to coast to coast.

"By directly supporting mental health organizations at the grassroots level, we know the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund is making a real and positive difference in the wellbeing of people living with mental health issues all around Canada," said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "We're looking forward to helping many more local mental health partners in 2015."

The Bell Let's Talk Community Fund has already supported more than 200 community groups in every region of Canada with $4 million in grants since 2011.

"The Bell Let's Talk Community Fund continues to be an important resource for locally-based mental health initiatives," said the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health. "Good mental health begins with a supportive community. Advancing mental health in Canada requires all of us - government at all levels, professionals, communities, workplaces and individuals - to work together. I applaud the Bell Let's Talk initiative for investing in mental health in communities across Canada."

"Thank you to the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund for supporting the HOpe Centre Coffee Shop, which employs people living with a mental health condition," said Sandra Severs, Executive Director of CMHA North and West Vancouver. "This social enterprise project will help fight stigma by hiring, training and providing work experience for people who might otherwise have difficulty finding appropriate, supportive work. Everyone has skills to contribute and work is an important part of being a healthy member of society. We hope the coffee shop, located in the HOpe Centre for Psychiatry and Education at Lions Gate Hospital, will be a model for the community showing that it is possible to employ people recovering from mental illness and run a successful business."

Applications to the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund are open to registered not-for-profit organizations and registered charities to fund localized mental health programs. Mental health experts from across Canada participate in the selection process. The 2015 application period is open until March 31 and all 2015 Fund grants will be disbursed before December 31, 2015.

To apply for 2015 funding, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

Join the conversation on Bell Let's Talk Day
On January 28, 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 of that day's Bell Let's Talk Day image at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk, Bell will donate 5 cents more to Canadian mental health programs.

In 2014, Canadians answered the call with a total of 109,451,718 messages including texts, wireless and long distance calls, tweets and Facebook shares, meaning Bell added another $5,472,585,90 to its Bell Let's Talk funding commitment. Based on its original $50 million donation and the results of the last 4 Bell Let's Talk Days, Bell has now committed more than $67.5 million to Canadian mental health.

Bell's donations are made at no extra charge to Bell Let's Talk Day participants, though normal long distance or text charges, if any, apply.

The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative
Bell Let's Talk promotes mental health based on 4 action pillars - anti-stigma, care and access, research, and workplace best practices. The initiative supports mental health leaders across the country including the Royal Ottawa Hospital, Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Hôpital Charles-LeMoyne, Montreal Jewish Hospital, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the University of British Columbia, the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Queen's University, La Fondation du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec, Concordia University, Brain Canada, Kids Help Phone, Sunnybrook Hospital and Université Laval Foundation.

To learn more about the Bell Let's Talk campaign, and to download the Bell Let's Talk toolkit to help get the conversation started, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and business customers with wireless, TV, Internet, home phone and business communications services. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, out of home, and digital media. Bell is wholly owned by Montréal's BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For more information, please visit Bell.ca

SOURCE Bell Canada