Bell Let's Talk Is Not Enough

If you live in Canada and are on social media, I’m sure you have heard about Bell Let’s Talk Day. It’s a day when Bell Canada donates money to mental health initiatives in Canada and people across the country share their support for mental health and those who are mentally ill. Sounds great, right? Well, it is a good start, but more needs to be done.

One of the major issues with Bell Let’s Talk is that people share posts and use the designated hashtags, but they don't make any active changes in their life to better support those with mental illnesses. Don't get me wrong, participating Bell Let's Talk is good, and sharing the hashtags and everything do help to raise money for mental health initiatives. But it isn't enough. Here are three simple things you can do today and every day to support those struggling with mental illnesses:

1) Educate yourself. This is possibly one of the best ways you can help. Do your research about mental illnesses, especially if someone you know struggles with one (or more). Try to learn things like the telltale signs of common mental illnesses like depression and anxiety, what to expect and how to help someone during a bad mental health day, and knowing what behaviours are crucial ones to watch out for and keep an eye on. Just educate yourself about it. Knowing is the first step in helping. After all, you can’t help someone if you don’t know what’s wrong, right? Just knowing someone is depressed or has OCD or PTSD is not enough. If someone close to you struggles with a mental illness, do your research. Please.

2) Check up on people. It’s all grand and dandy to share your support for mental illnesses on Bell Let’s Talk Day, but what about after that day is done? You say you support those with mental illness, so support them. Haven’t heard from your friend with depression? Send them a quick message. Know your sibling has had a lot on their plate? Offer to do something for them. Mental health affects everyone and no one should suffer alone. You don't have to fix their problems or know the exact right thing to say to them: just be there for them and let them know they are not alone in their internal battle.

3) Adjust your vocabulary. Using words like crazy, insane, spazzy, skitzo, and retarded when describing someone may not seem like a big deal, but trust me, it is. These words are used to belittle those who don’t fit society’s perfect mentally stable citizen. They’ve been used to dismiss symptoms and signs of mental illness and have put down those who are struggling. They are derogatory and offensive and should not be used, especially when describing a person. It can be difficult to remove a word from your vocabulary that you’ve used your whole life, but if people can stop using slurs for people of colour, and for anyone who isn’t straight and cis-gender, you can stop using derogatory words for the mentally ill. Change does not happen overnight, but making an effort to replace the words listed above is a huge step to creating a society that better accepts those with mental illnesses.

No one is perfect. You don’t have to be an expert on every single mental illness, nor do you have to bombard your friends and family with messages or completely change the way you speak. But making small efforts can make a huge difference.

Mental illnesses are isolating. Don’t contribute to the isolation. Be part of the solution.

If you or someone you know is struggling, there are many resources available. And remember, you are never alone.