Council says ‘Let’s Talk’
The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) was encouraging the community to participate in Bell Let’s Talk Day again this year, January 22, sharing a post on social media with a link to Bell’s donation page and instructions on how to contribute to mental health initiatives put forward by the company.
“Mental health is important. It’s an issue both in the community and beyond it,” said Arnold Boyer, the council chief leading the health portfolio.
Boyer was the one who started the MCK’s active participation in Bell Let’s Talk Day.
“We’ve been doing it for the past four years,” said Boyer. “I decided we were going to participate in that, so I contacted Bell and told them we were interested in participating, and they sent us the flag, the hats, and a lot of other things.”
These have appeared in the yearly post made by the MCK to encourage participation from the community.
“We want to spread awareness for mental health and mental wellbeing, and that in this community, there’s always somebody there to help, whether it’s during a crisis or you just need to talk,” said Boyer on the reason why the posts have continued since then.
This year, Bell Let’s Talk Day’s campaign has focused on youth mental health.
According to a report published by Bell Let’s Talk in October 2024 in collaboration with Mental Health Research Canada, over a million young people in the country need help, with half not getting the help they need. One in four Canadian youths having considered suicide, the report said.
Those interested in making monetary donations in support of mental health initiatives either texted YOUTH to 45678 or visited www.bell.ca/letstalk, where Bell matched $5 donations – up to a total of $1 million – and will send the money to six youth mental health organizations in Canada, including the National Association of Friendship Centres, providing services and supports to Onkwehón:we in urban settings.
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“There are a lot of challenges for youth today. They should be able to express themselves and talk about those challenges,” said Boyer. “Those in high school and college, and even outside of school, there are a lot of challenges with things like bullying, self-esteem, things like that.”
Bell Let’s Talk started in 2010, and according to Bell has since invested $184 million while partnering with over 1,500 organizations in Canada.
