Bell Let's Talk supports new website to help address the mental
health toll of COVID-19 on diverse communities
MONTRÉAL, Jan. 18, 2021 /CNW
Telbec/ - Bell Let's Talk, McGill
University, The Neuro (Montreal Neurological
Institute-Hospital) and the Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish
General Hospital are pleased to announce the official launch of the
Multicultural Mental Health Resource Centre (MMHRC). This
unique online resource seeks to improve the quality and
availability of mental health services for people from diverse
cultural and ethnic backgrounds, including new Canadians, refugees
and members of established ethnocultural communities. With these
populations disproportionally affected by the global pandemic, the
MMHRC will provide a timely and critical new resource.
A joint initiative by researchers at McGill's Division of Social & Transcultural
Psychiatry, The Neuro and the Lady Davis Institute, supported by a
$250,000 donation from Bell Let's
Talk, MMHRC is led by Dr.Laurence
Kirmayer, an international researcher in the field of
transcultural psychiatry. Dr. Kirmayer has pioneered efforts to
approach mental health within the cultural context of those who are
being treated and the communities in which they live.
"Addressing issues of language, culture, religion and other
aspects of diversity, the MMHRC will promote greater equity in
mental health care," said Dr. Kirmayer. "Mental health is often
viewed differently in different cultures, which requires culturally
responsive approaches to meet the needs of those seeking help. With
the generous support of Bell Let's Talk, we have drawn
on our extensive research to strengthen and develop our online
platform in order to better reach out to those in need and make
this resource more accessible."
"Our partnership with McGill
University and its affiliated hospitals to increase access
to mental health services in multiple languages reflects the Bell
Let's Talk commitment to support culturally informed mental health
supports for diverse communities," said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "We're
proud to play a role in making it easier for people from a wide
range of communities to get the help they need and to provide
health professionals all over Canada with resources to better help
their patients. This new website with its practical tools and
videos will make a real difference for so many living with mental
illness."
The MMHRC has developed information and tools for several
different groups:
- For patients and their families – multilingual
information on mental health issues and treatments, information
about how to find culturally appropriate mental health services,
and ways to help family members maintain their well-being.
- For health care professionals – information on
cultural-assessment tools and methods, access to interpreters and
culture brokers, and recommendations for culturally adapted
treatment interventions.
- For community organizations – materials for educators
about support programs for people living with mental health issues,
and advocacy and stigma reduction.
- For policy makers, planners and administrators –
information on health disparities, recommendations to improve
cultural competence in organizations, and models of mental health
services and interventions to address diversity.
When COVID-19 is brought under control and out-patient visits to
hospitals resume, interactive kiosks at The Neuro and the Jewish
General Hospital will be available where patients and clinical
staff can consult the website. In the meantime, the importance of
online tools has increased with the mental health challenges
COVID-19 has meant for many people. The pandemic's impact on
cultural communities has been particularly devastating, both in
terms of the disproportionate physical toll it has taken, and the
associated mental and emotional effects.
Webinars about Diversity and Mental Health
In
partnership with Bell Let's Talk, McGill and the Jewish General Hospital are hosting
a webinar on mental health in diverse communities to engage in
discussion about resiliency and mental well-being. Moderated by Dr.
Ghayda Hassan, this French-language
webinar will be held Thursday, January
21 at 12pm ET. To register for
the webinar, please click here.
A second webinar in English presented by Queen's University and
moderated by Dr. Jane Philpott,
takes place Friday, January 22,
12pm ET. To register for this event,
please click here.
Bell Let's Talk Day is January
28
On Bell Let's Talk Day January 28, Canadians everywhere will join in the
global mental health conversation. You can use a wide range of
communications platforms to join in – and directly drive Bell's
donations to Canadian mental health programs simply by
participating.
On Bell Let's Talk Day, Bell donates 5
cents to Canadian mental health programs for every
applicable text, local or long distance call, tweet or TikTok video
using #BellLetsTalk, every Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest,
Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube view of the Bell
Let's Talk Day video, and every use of the Bell Let's Talk Facebook
frame or Snapchat filter. All at no cost to participants beyond
what they would normally pay their service provider for online or
phone access.
About Bell Let's Talk
The largest-ever corporate
commitment to mental health in Canada, Bell Let's Talk is focused on 4 key
action pillars: Anti-stigma, Care and Access, Research and
Workplace Leadership. Since its launch in September 2010, Bell Let's Talk has partnered
with more than 1,100 organizations providing mental health supports
and services throughout Canada, including hospitals, universities,
local community service providers and other care and research
organizations. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
About McGill
University
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill University is Canada's top ranked medical
doctoral university. McGill is
consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally
and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher
learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11
faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over
40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students.
McGill attracts students from over 150
countries around the world, its 12,800 international students
making up 31% of the student body. Over half of McGill students claim a first language other than
English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French
is their mother tongue.
Media inquiries:
Bell
Caroline Audet
caroline.audet@bell.ca
514-391-9794
@Bell_LetsTalk
@Bell_News
McGill University
Cynthia Lee
cynthia.lee@mcgill.ca
514-793-6753
SOURCE Bell Canada