Let's keep the discussion going on mental health

The annual Bell Let’s Talk Day took place this week.  A day to raise awareness on mental health, promote discussion to erase the stigma and share resources for people in need of help. This day seemed more important than ever.
The pandemic has left so many feeling isolated, stressed and hopeless.
In December, Canadian Mental Health Association stated that according to a survey, 44 percent of Ontarians felt their mental health had deteriorated since the beginning of the 
COVID-19 pandemic. The highest rate across Canada. Of those, 13 percent experienced suicidal thoughts.
How do we move forward from here?
A fellow employee once said, “We spend so much time together at work; we need to take care of each other”. 
We are all in this together. 
In the workplace, even working remotely, we can support and take care of each other.
Keep communication open. Talk about how coworkers are dealing with their new work environments. Be clear on expectations. Be open about personal struggles. 
Keep flexible. Working from home might mean some staff are now working at home with children, limited internet access and other obstacles that wouldn’t be there in the workplace.
Make time for selfcare. Find time during the day to do something you enjoy. 
Enjoy a good meal, read a book, revisit a hobby you may have been neglecting.
Keep active. Take a walk. Take advantage of the online fitness programs (Full Tilt is currently offering theirs free during the lockdown). 
Reach out for support when you need it. To anyone struggling with mental health and addiction at this time, the Canadian Mental Health Association - Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge has programs and services that can be 
accessed anytime. Four County Crisis can be reached 24/7 at 705-745-6484 or 
toll-free 1-866-995-9933. 
Fortunately, mental health has become much easier to talk about and do something about. Thanks to initiatives such as Bell Let’s Talk Day, much of the stigma around mental health has been erased and there is much more support from employers. 
81% of businesses believe that it is important to support their employees’ mental wellness in the workplace; however, only 35% of small business, 65% of medium sized business and 76% of large business have mental health strategies.  
Bell Let’s Talk day is a remarkable initiative that to date has injected exactly $86,504,429.05 into the conversation on mental health. The campaign is focused on four pillars:
Anti-stigma
One of the biggest hurdles for anyone suffering from mental illness is overcoming the stigma attached to it. The annual Bell Let’s Talk awareness campaign and Day is driving the national 
conversation to help reduce this stigma and promote awareness and understanding, and talking is an important first step towards lasting change.
Care & Access Bell supports a variety of organizations including grassroots agencies, local hospitals, and universities to help provide Canadians with support services when and where they need it. 
Research
Research holds the greatest promise to better understand treatments and cures. Bell is investing in best-in-class research programs with the potential to have a 
transformative impact on the mental health and well-being of Canadians.
Workplace health Mental health is the leading cause of workplace disability in Canada and represents 15% of Canada’s burden of disease. Bell is committed to leading by example in their own workplace by adopting the voluntary Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, and is encouraging greater corporate engagement across Canada.
As the pandemic continues, it’s important to know that one day we will be out of this, and look back at this nightmare for what it was. A time with struggle, but we were able get through it together. A time with sadness, but we were able to offer each other hope and inspiration. A time we were isolated from the world, but were able to offer support that brought us closer together.