On January 25 the Bell Let’s Talk campaign entered its 13th year to help raise awareness and combat stigma surrounding mental health in Canada. This year Bell teamed up with Jack.org to help further educate our youth and adolescents about mental health struggles. We're working towards a Canada where all young people understand how to take care of their own mental health and look out for each other.
Jack.org is Canada's only charity training and empowering young leaders to revolutionize mental health in every province and territory. Through Jack Talks, Jack Chapters, and Jack Summits, young leaders identify and dismantle barriers to positive mental health in their communities. And through ambitious innovations in youth mental health like Be There, they give people the mental health resources they need to educate themselves.
The coaching staff of the U15 MD1 Waxers team have dedicated time each year to do mental health check-ins with our players as a part of their hockey season. It's a way to connect off the ice and to show the players that they not only care about the game, but that they are there for support even when there’s not a practice or game. The U15 MD1 players have now entered high school, are growing more mature, and facing new life challenges. Led by the team staff, the team took the time to educate themselves and nurture their leadership skills by completing the jack.org “Be There” certification. The goal is to teach people how to practice kindness by giving them the knowledge and confidence they need to recognize when others around them may be silently struggling with their mental health, how to lean into tough conversations, and how to maintain their own mental health while providing support to others.
The five golden rules of “Be There" are ways you can show support for others:
- Say What You See
- Show You Care
- Hear Them Out
- Know Your Role
- Connect To Help
Sometimes people just need you to “BE THERE.”
Earn your Be There Certificate!