Bell Let's Talk and True Patriot Love launch military family mental health fund

Bell Let's Talk and True Patriot Love launch military family mental health fund


-- $1 million fund for community-based mental health support
-- Grants from $5,000 to $25,000 to deliver programs at Military
Family Resource Centres across Canada
-- Applications for 2013 funding accepted from April 30 through
June 28, 2013
-- Bell continues as presenting sponsor of the True Patriot Love
Tribute Dinner through 2014


OTTAWA, April 30, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell Canada and the True Patriot
Love Foundation today announced the launch of the Bell True Patriot
Love Fund, a $1 million program to support community mental health
initiatives for Canadian military families.



"I salute the collaboration and support of Bell and True Patriot Love in
bringing mental health and mental illness to the attention of
Canadians," said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National
Defence. "The Canadian Armed Forces are proud participants in Bell
Let's Talk Day and share in the goal of ending the stigma surrounding
mental illness."



Starting this year and through 2016, the Bell True Patriot Love Fund
will distribute $250,000 annually in grants of $5,000 to $25,000. It
will support programs delivered through Military Family Resource
Centres (MFRCs) that focus on improving access to mental health care on
Canadian Forces Bases across the country. Bell and True Patriot Love
are sharing the cost of the $1 million program equally.



"Bell Let's Talk is proud to partner with True Patriot Love in
supporting members of the Canadian military and their families with
this specialized program," said George Cope, President and CEO of Bell
and BCE. "We all acknowledge the unique pressures and demands faced by
military families, and the Fund will help ensure access to mental
health support for those who need it, as close to home as possible."



"True Patriot Love is grateful for the leading role Bell has played in
working to establish a funding mechanism to support mental health care
for the Canadian Armed Forces community," said Bronwen Evans,
Co-Founder and Managing Director of True Patriot Love. "Together we are
committed to seeing positive change for those Canadians who dedicate so
much of their lives to their country."



The call for funding applications runs from today, April 30(, )through to June 28, 2013, and is open to all MFRCs across Canada working
in partnership with local mental health groups. The True Patriot Love
Foundation will manage and administer all aspects of the Fund.



"We have seen the real difference True Patriot Love is making in the
lives of Canadian servicemen and women who have struggled as a result
of their service to the country," said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's
Talk. "We're very pleased to apply our experience in working with
grassroots community groups through the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund
to bring enhanced mental health support to military families in
locations across the nation in partnership with True Patriot Love."



Bell and True Patriot Love will focus the fund on high-impact,
community-level programming that meets the unique needs of each
individual military base. The most effective way to achieve this is
through MFRCs, which serve as a well-established focus through which
community-based services and social supports can be provided. Many
Canadian military families live on military bases in smaller, often
remote communities.



The Bell Let's Talk initiative was launched in 2010 to drive action in
mental health based on 4 pillars: Anti-stigma, care and access,
research, and workplace best practices. To learn more about the
largest-ever corporate commitment to Canadian mental health, please
visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.



At least 1 in 5 Canadians will struggle with a mental illness in their
lifetimes - and 2 out of 3 won't seek the help they need because of the
stigma surrounding the disease. Mental illness impacts everyone in some
way, and it's a health issue that costs the Canadian economy over $51
billion every year. More than 500,000 people miss work each day because
of a mental illness, and the impact in lost labour-market participation
alone was an estimated $20.7 billion in 2012. With its initial
$50-million commitment and three successful Bell Let's Talk Days since
2011, Bell has now committed a total of $62,043,289.30 to Canadian
mental health.


About True Patriot Love:

True Patriot Love honours the sacrifices of members of the Canadian
Forces, Veterans and their families by:



-- Stepping in where government is unable to fund programs that
support their physical, mental and social wellbeing no matter
where they are posted in Canada or abroad
-- Promoting their special skills and capabilities resulting from
their unique conditions of service
-- Being a channel for everyday Canadians, corporations and
philanthropists to express their appreciation and patriotism


Over the past three years, True Patriot Love was honoured to have raised
over $14 million to fund a variety of military programs, charities and
causes, when and where it is needed most. Our three key areas of
support are Family Health and Support, Physical Health and
Rehabilitation, and Mental Health and Well-Being.

Please visit www.truepatriotlovefoundation.com for more information.


About Bell

Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and
business with solutions to all their communications needs. Bell Media
is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in
television, radio and digital media. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc.
(TSX, NYSE: BCE). To learn more about Bell, please visit Bell.ca.


SOURCE Bell Canada

Bell Canada

CONTACT: For media inquiries, please contact: Hilary Coles
Manager, Communications and PR
True Patriot Love Foundation
hcoles@truepatriotlove.com
416.628.4972 Jacqueline Michelis
Bell Media Relations
1 855-785-1427
jacqueline.michelis@bell.ca
@Bell_News


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