Bell Let’s Talk’s 15th annual day for mental health is this Wednesday, January 22 to prioritize youth mental health crisis

A first for Bell Let’s Talk, Canadians are encouraged on January 22 to support youth mental health providers by participating in a national text-to-donate campaign!

Montréal – Bell Let’s Talk Day kicks off its 15th year of action and change on January 22 by putting the spotlight on the growing youth mental health crisis.

A first for Bell Let’s Talk, Canadians are encouraged on January 22 to support youth mental health providers by participating in a national text-to-donate campaign.

On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Canadians can donate $5 by text with 100% of the proceeds going to six youth mental health organizations: Integrated Youth Services, Jack.org, Kids Help Phone, National Association of Friendship Centres, Strongest Families Institute, and Youth In Mind Foundation.

“Bell Let’s Talk Day is significant in the Canadian mental health landscape and sends ripples globally. It will now put a spotlight on the youth mental health crisis, bringing dialogue and action into the mainstream – in our conversations, our schools, our communities – and in every corner of the country. Sometimes finding the right words can be tough, but that’s exactly what the amazing counsellors and crisis responders at Kids Help Phone are here to do: give young folks a safe space to feel out loud, 24/7, without judgement. We are grateful for Bell Let’s Talk’s unwavering commitment to continually shifting the landscape and for being alongside Kids Help Phone for many years.” – Katherine (Kathy) Hay, President and CEO of Kids Help Phone

Canadians can double their impact as Bell will match all $5 donations up to a total of $1 million.

This year, Canada’s annual Day for Mental Health highlights the progress that has been made and discusses what still needs to be done to support those with mental health challenges, including Canada’s youth who are facing a growing mental health crisis.

“For 15 years, Canadians have been all-in with supporting Bell Let’s Talk, which continues to move mental health forward for people across the country. We invite all Canadians to participate in Bell Let’s Talk Day and help support important organizations that are helping Canada’s youth in need of mental health support.” – Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk

In 2025, Bell will give $10 million towards mental health, bringing its total Bell Let’s Talk investment to $184 million since 2010.

New multimedia campaign raises awareness of the crisis facing Canada’s youth

Bell Let’s Talk today launched a nationwide multimedia campaign – Together, let’s support youth mental health – that confronts Canadians with the stark reality of the urgent youth mental health crisis and the need for more mental health support. Designed to get Canadians focused on the crisis facing young people, the campaign includes the collective call to action: We can’t let this be their future.

A Generation at Risk: The State of Youth Mental Health in Canada

In consultation with the mental health community, Bell Let’s Talk partnered with Mental Health Research Canada to prepare the comprehensive national report, A Generation at Risk: The State of Youth Mental Health in Canada. Released in October 2024, the report uncovers alarming statistics about Canada’s growing youth mental health crisis:

Suicide is a leading cause of death: Suicide remains a leading cause of death among young people in Canada, accounting for 21% of deaths; 24% of youth (16-24) report suicidal ideation.
Priority youth populations: 2SLGBTQ+ communities, newcomers, Black and Indigenous youth have higher rates of poor mental health and experience barriers to accessing care.
Early onset of mental health conditions: Youth are considered a vulnerable population with approximately 66% to 75% of mental health issues having an onset before the age of 24.
Self-stigma: While young people are generally comfortable discussing mental health as a broad topic, they are less comfortable discussing their own mental health conditions.
Contributing factors: Mental health issues increased among youth before the pandemic and have worsened since then due to a combination of social disconnection, excessive screen time (6+ hours daily) and socio-economic challenges.

Bell Media programming

As part of the new Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign, Bell Media will feature special mental health content in English and French across its TV, radio and digital properties, including a new French language documentary, LES GARS, FAUT QU’ON SE PARLE available on Crave, Canal Vie, Canal D, and later on Noovo.

Bell Let’s Talk is the largest-ever corporate commitment to mental health in Canada, Bell Let’s Talk has a vision of a Canada where everyone can get the mental health support they need to flourish – and is a driver of Bell for Better. Since its launch in 2010, Bell Let’s Talk has partnered with more than 1,500 organizations providing mental health services throughout Canada, including hospitals, universities, local community service providers and other care and research organizations. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.