Bell Let's Talk night with the Sudbury Wolves

The 13th annual Bell Let’s Talk Day is still few days away, but Friday night at the Sudbury Wolves game, the conversation of mental health was at the forefront.A few Bell team members handing out tuques to fans at the Sudbury Wolves game on Jan. 20/23. (Ashley Bacon/CTV News Northern Ontario)The Bell team of volunteers handed out hundreds of hats to fans as they arrived.

Before the puck dropped, Bell Let’s Talk ambassador Sandy McDonald delivered thousands of dollars to grant recipients in the community at centre ice for the outstanding work they do in the greater Sudbury community for mental health services.The Reseau Access Network and Mshkikii Gamik Medicine Lodge Collaborative in Sudbury were presented with checks as part of the Bell Let's Talk campaign Friday. (Photo courtesy of the Sudbury Wolves)“We’re doing $75,000 from the Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund and $20,000 from the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund,” said McDonald.

The Reseau Access Network was the recipient of the $20,000 from the community fund.

“People are still to shy to talk about it and too shy to ask for help but help is available and we need to provide the resources for them to be able to ask for that help and get it,” said Cynthia Jollineau with the network.

The $75,000 is going to the Mshkikii Gamik Medicine Lodge Collaborative inside Health Sciences North (HSN).

"People like to feel like they're seen and that they're heard and valuable and so part of making sure that we have culturally safe, relevant services actually supports healing, health and wellness overall," said Deanna Jones-Keeshig, the director of Indigenous Health Services at HSN, on Tuesday when the funding was originally announced.

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Both the North Bay Battalion and the Soo Greyhounds also hosted Bell Let’s Talk nights in the region this week.

Bell Let’s Talk Day takes place on Jan. 25.