Bell Let’s Talk Day
Wednesday, January 31st is Bell Let’s Talk Day – A campaign to raise awareness and fight the stigma surrounding mental illness. For every text message, wireless or long-distance call made by Bell customers, for every share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, Bell will donate money to programs dedicated to mental health.
It is an initiative that begins a necessary conversation; the numbers are alarming – 1 in 7 young British Columbians will experience a mental illness at some point in their life. More than 300,000 British Columbians will see a physician for problems related to depression or anxiety each year. More British Columbians die by suicide each year than by deaths resulting from traffic fatalities, AIDS, or illicit drug deaths. In young people, aged 15-24, suicide is the second-leading cause of death.
Even more heart breaking are the stories these statistics represent; people affected by mental health issues are our family members, friends, co-workers, and even those who help us… We all know someone who has been affected by mental illness.
Captain Mark Braye of The Salvation Army is one of the millions of people affected by mental illness each year. As a leader, preacher of faith, and dedicated hand in society, Cpt. Braye has experienced and journeyed through his own dark chapters.
“My life has been a dark chapter on depression. I cried uncontrollably. Some days I struggled to fall asleep, other days I struggled to wake up. I was in physical pain. I was in mental and emotional turmoil. I felt sad, mad, afraid, ashamed and embarrassed. I felt nothing. I couldn’t eat and then I would overeat. I couldn’t focus and settle to read. I was not myself; it took the absolute good out of me,” explains Cpt. Braye.
Struggling with the little hope that was left, Cpt. Braye generously received the help he needed from family and friends, medication, professional counselling and, most importantly, God.
“Today, I am much better, more myself. I’ve experienced a lot of healing over the past few years,” says Cpt. Braye, “Think of these four things as the legs of a table; if your mental and emotional well-being is resting on a table, its better to have four strong legs holding it up, rather than one, two or three.”
There are countless articles, books and resources, both Christian and non-Christian, to help people suffering from mental illness, and those who love them. Being informed is a good place to start, another way to help is to simply listen.
On Bell Lets Talk Day, lets end the stigma around mental illness by having a conversation.
For more information about this initiative, visit Link.