On this Thursday, January 28th, it was the 11th annual Bell Let’s Talk Day where Canadians are joining in on the conversation about mental health, which is a particularly prevalent topic amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The day also raises awareness about the stigma surrounding mental health and aims to eliminate it once and for all by increasing awareness and reducing the stigma around depression, anxiety, or other illnesses.
Bell Canada is donating five cents for every text, phone call, tweet or TikTok video using #BellLetsTalk, plus social media video views and Snapchat or Facebook videos using the Bell Let’s Talk filter.
Good morning, Canada – it’s #BellLetsTalk Day, and I hope you’re ready to start talking. Because that’s how we can break down barriers and end the stigma around mental health. And with the year we’ve had, that’s more important than ever. So, are you ready? Let’s talk. pic.twitter.com/UjtFnvuKXS
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 28, 2021
Now more than ever, millions of Canadians are struggling to cope mentally with the ‘new normal’ lifestyle changes of the COVID-19 pandemic but music has long been known as healing when it comes to emotional and mental well-being.
A Canadian video was created from the contributions of over 200 physicians from across Canada as part of the Phoenix Chamber Choir, singing and recording the music in isolation between November and December 2020. Closer to home in Southampton, one of the doctors who contributed and who now lives and practises in British Columbia, was Southampton’s Allison Salter and her children, daughter and grandchildren of MaryJane and Paul Salter.
The Choir also donates to A Dollar A Day Foundation (https://adollaraday.ca/) – dedicated to providing adequate funding for frontline mental health and addictions programs across Canada. “Many thanks to our guest musicians: Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea), Romano DiNillo (Come From Away – Broadway), and Josh Ward (Hey Rosetta),” says Artistic Director, Nicholle Andrews.
If you would like to be part of the next Canadian Physicians Virtual Choir project or help to support the choir, email Productions@PhoenixChoir.com or visit; https://phoenixchoir.com/donate
