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Old 02-12-2013, 06:15 AM   #1
Kidder
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Default Bell "Let's Talk" Day - Mental Health Awareness

Today (February 12th) is Let's Talk Day, an initiative of Bell to raise awareness and funds for Mental Health across Canada.

http://mobilesyrup.com/2013/02/12/go...ay-is-today-3/

I know some members in the past have come forward with their personal tales of affliction. Topics of suicide and depression have created some interesting and polarizing debate within this forum. I thought this would be a good opportunity to ignite some new discussion.

Feel free to share an anecdote, story of personal experience, unpopular opinion, or anything else you deem relevant.

Let's talk.
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Old 02-12-2013, 06:26 AM   #2
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I have to admit I'm usually pretty skeptical about these charitable events put on by major corporations.

They always feel self-serving, designed for advertising purposes. That said, I've been impressed by the amount of advertising for this campaign. Billboards, radio, tv, computer ads, months in advance. Just going to Youtube to grab this video and am greeted by a giant Lets Talk ad.

I believe this video is really well done, and skillfully portrays the inner struggle and outer mask that can surround these illnesses:

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Old 02-12-2013, 08:26 AM   #3
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I have to admit I'm usually pretty skeptical about these charitable events put on by major corporations.

They always feel self-serving, designed for advertising purposes. That said, I've been impressed by the amount of advertising for this campaign. Billboards, radio, tv, computer ads, months in advance. Just going to Youtube to grab this video and am greeted by a giant Lets Talk ad.
often when a corporation gets so heavily involved in a specific subject, it's because someone very high up has personal reasons for initiating the program. i'm guessing 1 or more of the VIP's at Bell have dealt with depression personally or in their families
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Old 02-12-2013, 08:38 AM   #4
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Just a reminder that if you think you might need some help but don't know where to turn- call 211.
http://211alberta.ca/calgary/

They will put you in touch with the services that you need.
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Old 02-12-2013, 09:07 AM   #5
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I think Bell has done an excellent job with this and good on them for raising the stakes on a growing issue in today's society. I know people that struggle with depression everyday and don't feel like there's help or sympathy out there.

Bell has done a great job of providing a call to action.

If you know of someone that you think is struggling, today is as good a day as any to reach out and let them know that you're there for them and you'll do anything to help them out. Don't let them suffer in silence.
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Old 02-12-2013, 09:27 AM   #6
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I think the public awareness campaign is worth more than anything at all.

Last year I lost one of my best friends to suicide. Nobody among his family or friends knew he was in that type of place.

This is a very very worthwhile cause! But more than for people to reach out to the depressed, I feel it's more important for the depressed to feel like it's okay to reach out to their family and friends. Difficult to do, but it's easier when you know that people have a better understanding of what you're going through.
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Old 02-12-2013, 09:33 AM   #7
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I believe that mental illnesses is one of the least funded and least understood illnesses.
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Old 02-12-2013, 09:33 AM   #8
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I was watching this morning on Canada AM where pretty much the whole show was dedicated to the issue.

I hate Bell with an absolute passion but have to give them kudos for this endevour.

I didn't realize the whole breadth of issues that fall under the umbrella of "Mental Health Disorders". Obviously depression falls in that category and that's the bulk of what is being talked about today.

Here is a non exhaustive list of disorders from http://www.mentalhealth.com/p20-grp.html :
Anxiety Disorders
Childhood Disorders
Eating Disorders
Mood Disorders
Cognitive Disorders (Delirium, Dementia, Amnestic Disorders)
Personality Disorders
Schizophrenia & Other Psychotic Disorders
Substance-Related Disorders
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Old 02-12-2013, 09:40 AM   #9
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Yeah, I have to give kudos to Bell on this campaign. (and I'm not Bell's biggest fan at all)

I typically don't buy into the concept of clicktavism, hashtagtavism or promoting tweets for a company's "good cause". It's a very fine line between self promotion and just raising "awareness". But I think that Bell has really done a good job with it and I'd be interested to see what the final numbers on it are. I wouldn't be shocked to hear them donating a million plus. Which would be quite impressive.

Watching it grow online is pretty impressive and it got me to at least contribute with some conversations about the history of metal illness and alcoholism that runs rampant in my family. Which if anything is probably something I wouldn't have even talked about or spoken out about on a random Tuesday.
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Old 02-12-2013, 09:49 AM   #10
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Just raising the issue can be enough to get people talking about it, and that's the key thing with depression. I was diagnosed in 2000 and it actually led me into my current line of work, which has kept it at bay for the most part. I don't necessarily work directly with other depressives, but when I'm open about my own fight with the depression monkey it often leads to someone saying they've got the same problem.
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Old 02-12-2013, 09:53 AM   #11
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Watching it grow online is pretty impressive and it got me to at least contribute with some conversations about the history of metal illness and alcoholism that runs rampant in my family. Which if anything is probably something I wouldn't have even talked about or spoken out about on a random Tuesday.
Absolutely. It's like someone has given us a special day to have free reign to talk about the issues that most days we actually would want to keep hidden.

On Friday I start therapy for Bulimia. I have never purged, but only because I could never get my fingers down the right way. But 4 hours of exercise was common; laxatives, diuretics the whole gambit. I would go on Greyhound bus trips solely so that I would be in a confined space and forced to fast. I don't know if it truly is Bulimia, but just talking it out with a therapist I hope will help resolve at least the emotional burdens that come with it. It will be the first time in my entire life that I have ever sat down with a therapist... I always thought they were quacks for weak people - until I became one of those weak people. Thus my rant last week in the "Unpopular Opinions" thread last week about weight loss surgery.
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Old 02-12-2013, 10:15 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by c.t.ner View Post
Yeah, I have to give kudos to Bell on this campaign. (and I'm not Bell's biggest fan at all)

I typically don't buy into the concept of clicktavism, hashtagtavism or promoting tweets for a company's "good cause". It's a very fine line between self promotion and just raising "awareness". But I think that Bell has really done a good job with it and I'd be interested to see what the final numbers on it are. I wouldn't be shocked to hear them donating a million plus. Which would be quite impressive.

Watching it grow online is pretty impressive and it got me to at least contribute with some conversations about the history of metal illness and alcoholism that runs rampant in my family. Which if anything is probably something I wouldn't have even talked about or spoken out about on a random Tuesday.
I tend to feel the same, and sadly it seems the 5cent donation thing has already killed the discussion as people attempt to spam the hell out of it with every tweet of the day. "Grabbing my coffee! #Bellletstalk" etc.

While I did see some great discussions happening this morning, it's disheartening to see a well meaning signal degrade into static noise like this.
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Old 02-12-2013, 10:17 AM   #13
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While I agree this is a great cause and everything, I'm getting really tired of all the text messages I'm getting from people.

"Bell is donating $0.05 for every text I send today."

Ok, great...but you're spamming me.
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Old 02-12-2013, 10:19 AM   #14
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This is all nonsense. Bell has already budgeted a certain amount to be donated to charity every year, and are now saying they will withhold that money unless people give them free advertising. This is basically charity by ransom.
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Old 02-12-2013, 10:51 AM   #15
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This is all nonsense. Bell has already budgeted a certain amount to be donated to charity every year, and are now saying they will withhold that money unless people give them free advertising. This is basically charity by ransom.
I bet you're a blast at parties.

If Bell just donated its budgeted amount, would it have the same impact as an interactive, public awareness campaign?
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Old 02-12-2013, 10:56 AM   #16
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This is all nonsense. Bell has already budgeted a certain amount to be donated to charity every year, and are now saying they will withhold that money unless people give them free advertising. This is basically charity by ransom.
You're right. Due too how they are accounting for money they're DONATING, it doesn't mean as much. That is basically bull####
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Old 02-12-2013, 10:57 AM   #17
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I bet you're a blast at parties.

If Bell just donated its budgeted amount, would it have the same impact as an interactive, public awareness campaign?
Probably. You'd have to document that this sort of public awareness campaign has any effect on mental health at all. My guess is that it doesn't, but hey, lots of free advertising for Bell.

Also, put me in the camp that believes mental health is not as super-serious as many people think.
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Old 02-12-2013, 11:02 AM   #18
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Probably. You'd have to document that this sort of public awareness campaign has any effect on mental health at all. My guess is that it doesn't, but hey, lots of free advertising for Bell.
Free indeed. They are only donating $50,000,000 between 2010-2015 plus the millions every year when they do this campaign. They are easily going to put between $70+ million over a 5 year period for this cause. Not to mention the amount of money put into commericals, advertising, etc.

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In 2011, there was a total of 66,079,236 text messages and long distance calls on Bell Let's Talk Day – meaning Bell added another $3,303,961.80 to the $50 million it has already committed to Canadian mental health.
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Old 02-12-2013, 11:05 AM   #19
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Free indeed. They are only donating $50,000,000 between 2010-2015 plus the millions every year when they do this campaign. They are easily going to put between $70+ million over a 5 year period for this cause. Not to mention the amount of money put into commericals, advertising, etc.
But you don't get it. This was already budgeted beforehand, and if it wasn't, then Bell has an idiotic accounting department.
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Old 02-12-2013, 11:18 AM   #20
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But you don't get it. This was already budgeted beforehand, and if it wasn't, then Bell has an idiotic accounting department.
So if you budget something than it becomes free? Good to know. I have my car budgeted into my finances does that mean I didn't pay anything for it?
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Not at all, as I've said, I would rather start with LA over any of the other WC playoff teams. Bunch of underachievers who look good on paper but don't even deserve to be in the playoffs.
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