The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Kelowna is pleased to receive a $15,000 grant from the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund to support a youth mental health mobile unit in the Kelowna area.
CMHA Kelowna, the operator and lead agency for Foundry Kelowna, is working to provide better access to mental health services for youth who live in the Central Okanagan.
Both CMHA Kelowna and Foundry Kelowna are amongst the 8 outstanding organizations featured in the Bell Let’s Talk Day 2020 campaign, which highlights Canadian organizations taking action by providing supports and services to make a difference for people experiencing mental health challenges.
“The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant supports our commitment to building a mentally healthy community,” said CMHA Kelowna Executive Director Shelagh Turner. “Our goal is to provide excellent service to support individuals with their mental health. This grant will help us create a community where everyone has access to the care they need.”
Youth engagement has been a significant part of the mobile unit project, which is expected to be on the road by summer. Local youth were asked how Foundry Kelowna could improve services and they indicated that there was a gap in accessibility for young people who live beyond Kelowna.
“Last year more than 1,500 youth visited Foundry Kelowna for a range of services. While that number shows we are helping a lot of young people, it also indicates there are still those who may need help and are not getting it.” Ben Macauley, Manager for Foundry Kelowna, says that’s why the mobile unit will focus on the communities of West Kelowna and Lake Country.
The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant will help further Foundry Kelowna’s work ensuring youth have a safe, non-judgmental place where they can be connected to help, where and when they need it.
“Bell Let’s Talk is pleased to support CMHA Kelowna to help expand mental health services for youth in Central Okanagan through a new mobile mental health unit,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “To date, the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund has supported more than 650 organizations across Canada, like CMHA Kelowna, that are taking action to provide vital supports to help create positive change for youth and family mental health in their communities.”
Bell Let’s Talk Day is January 29
The Bell Let’s Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let’s Talk Day and significant funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives. On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Bell donates 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for each of the following communications, at no extra cost to participants:
- 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
- YouTube: Every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view at youtube.com/BellCanada
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