Sudbury organizations receive funding from Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund
Two organizations in Sudbury have received funding from the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund. The money is a way to ensure people get the mental health support they need close to home during the pandemic.
As part of the Bell Let’s Talk initiative, the community fund has been providing up to $25,000 to charitable organizations across Canada that offer mental health services.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Sudbury/Manitoulin received $25,000 from the fund. The CMHA said because of the pandemic, there has been an increase in depression and isolation.
Patty MacDonald, CEO of the Sudbury/Manitoulin CMHA, said the money will go to staff training.
“Bell Let’s Talk is an amazing campaign, it’s all about talking about mental health and reaching out to your family, friends, neighbours, co-workers and this is just another opportunity to be able to do that,” said MacDonald.
“With the suicide and safe talk, it’s about saving lives, too. It’s talking to people who are feeling suicidal and having those thoughts, and reaching out before it becomes a crisis.”
The Sudbury Action Centre for Youth is another recipient. It received $20,000 and said the money will be used for weekly support groups.
“We run a youth group for trans and non-binary youth from across Ontario and we also run a support group for adults who identify as trans or non-binary from Ontario,” said Vincent Bolt, of the Sudbury Action Centre for Youth.
Bolt said the support groups have really reduced the isolation for trans community members during the pandemic.
“We have individuals who haven’t been out to see friends or family in almost two years and at least now we have this group that meets every week that they can connect with,” said Bolt.
“Doing things like baking and arts and crafts, doing our make-up, these are the kinds of things that help boost self confidence and help boost self-esteem and help you feel like you are engaged.”
The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund was launched in 2011, and since then $15 million has been handed out to various groups across Canada.
Applications for next year's Bell Let’s Talk Fund open Jan. 19. Bell Let’s Talk Day is on Jan. 26.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.