Bell Let’s Talk Day and Youth Mental Health: A Call for Year-Round Action
Each year, Bell Let’s Talk Day shines a spotlight on mental health, raising awareness and fostering conversations about an issue that touches countless lives. This year, Bell Let’s Talk Day falls on January 22, 2025. While this initiative has undeniably contributed to reducing stigma and promoting dialogue, I find myself frustrated with yet another one-day campaign for an issue that is, for some, a life long concern. As a therapist who works with youth every day who are struggling significantly with their mental health, I am a first hand witness to the limitations of the mental health care system. While Bell Let’s Talk does indeed raise awareness, the youth of our society deserve more. What we really need is a systemic change and a true commitment to mental wellness that goes beyond corporate branding and hashtags.
The Reality of Youth Mental Health
The statistics are sobering. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 70% of mental health challenges emerge during childhood or adolescence. Depression and anxiety rates among youth have skyrocketed, with suicide remaining the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15-24 in Canada.
These numbers underscore an urgent need for consistent, accessible mental health support. Yet, one of the most significant barriers remains the prolonged wait times for professional services. Youth and their families often face months-long waiting lists to access therapy, counseling, or psychiatric care. These delays can exacerbate mental health challenges, leading to crises that might otherwise have been preventable with timely intervention. While Bell Let’s Talk funds some mental health initiatives, it is imperative to recognize that sporadic funding and awareness campaigns cannot resolve the deep systemic issues, such as underfunded mental health services and overburdened healthcare systems.
A Year-Round Approach to Mental Wellness
Bell Let’s Talk Day encourages vital conversations, but what happens the next day? As mental health professionals, caregivers, educators, and community members, we need to ensure these conversations translate into meaningful, sustained action. From a therapeutic standpoint, this means:
Building Supportive Relationships: We live in an age where our youth - though ever connected by social media - are more isolated than ever. Our kids need a village, and we must foster environments—schools, homes, and communities—where youth feel safe and supported every day.
Be Proactive: Check in with your kids, your students, your friends, your family members and regularly ask them how they are doing. Be curious, be open, be non-judgmental. Often times, people will stay quiet for fear they are burdening others with their concerns. Offer them your support, without them having to ask for it.
Teach Effective Skills for Wellness: Reach out to a therapist in your community, or take a free online course to learn different techniques for your wellness. Once you have learned them, PRACTICE them. Techniques from DBT, like mindfulness and emotion regulation, can be very effective, and they should be encouraged daily, not just in crisis moments.
Being an advocate: Change doesn’t occur overnight - whether it’s a change in ourselves, or a change in our society. Be an advocate for your needs, and be an advocate for the needs of your community. We all deserve better.
Lobbying for Mental Health Funding and Initiatives
Achieving lasting change in youth mental health requires systemic investment and policy reform. Governments play a critical role in addressing the gaps in mental health services. Lobbying your Member of Parliament (MP) can be a powerful way to advocate for increased funding and more comprehensive mental health initiatives. Here’s how you can make an impact:
Write or Call Your MP: Share your concerns about mental health service shortages and ask them to prioritize funding for youth mental health programs.
Support Bills and Petitions: Stay informed about proposed legislation related to mental health and lend your voice to petitions or campaigns advocating for systemic changes.
Join Advocacy Groups: Organizations like CMHA and Jack.org often lead initiatives to influence policy changes. Joining their efforts amplifies your voice.
Demand Accountability: Push for transparent reporting on how mental health funding is allocated and its outcomes.
Organizations Supporting Youth Mental Health 365 Days a Year
While Bell Let’s Talk garners attention, many organizations work tirelessly year-round to promote youth wellness:
Jack.org: A Canadian organization empowering youth to revolutionize mental health in their communities through education, advocacy, and leadership programs.
CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association): Offers a range of services, including early intervention programs and peer support for youth.
Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario: Provides integrated, youth-focused services for mental health, substance use, education, and housing.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada: While not exclusively a mental health organization, their mentorship programs create lasting, supportive relationships for youth.
Online Resources for Youth Mental Health
For those seeking immediate support, several excellent resources are available:
HERE 24/7 (Guelph and Wellington County): A centralized access point for mental health, addiction, and crisis services. They offer 24/7 support at 1-844-437-3247.
988 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Available across Canada for individuals in distress or those supporting someone who is.
Kids Help Phone: Accessible via call, text, or live chat, offering confidential support 24/7.
Moving Beyond Awareness
While Bell Let’s Talk Day has succeeded in breaking down stigma and opening dialogue, it risks becoming performative if we rely solely on a single day to address such a critical issue. The initiative also raises concerns about the commodification of mental health awareness by corporate entities that benefit from the goodwill generated.
If we want to make a meaningful impact, we must integrate mental health conversations and actions into our daily lives. This includes:
Advocating for Systemic Change: Pushing for policies that increase funding for youth mental health services, reduce wait times, and address inequities in access.
Supporting Educators and Caregivers: Equipping those on the front lines with the tools to recognize and respond to mental health concerns.
Normalizing Mental Health Discussions: Embedding mental health education in schools and community programs to reduce stigma and foster understanding.
Bell Let’s Talk Day has started a conversation, but it’s up to us to keep it going. By committing to daily actions and demanding systemic change, we can ensure that our youth receive the support they need not just today, but every day of the year. Let’s create a culture of mental wellness that transcends a single hashtag and prioritizes genuine, sustained action.