#BreakTheSilence campaign nets $80,000 for local mental health programs

Members of the community came through in a huge way for local mental health initiatives during the #BreakTheSilence social media campaign.

 

By sharing the hashtag #BreakTheSilence, thousands of times on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, people from across Ontario – including politicians Ben Lobb, Lisa Thompson, Bill Walker, Bob Rae, Bob Chiarelli, Kevin Flynn and Lisa MacLeod, and retired NHL star Tie Domi – showed their support for people who live with mental health issues by starting the conversation with their friends and family.

Local mayors, First Nations chiefs and health care professionals also played an important role in spreading the message during Mental Health Awareness Week.

 

In turn, Bruce Power donated $80,000 to local mental health initiatives which will support community members who live with mental illnesses.

The donations include:

 

• $25,000 to the Westover Treatment Centre’s Recovery Support Program, which helps people overcome addiction and other issues

• $23,000 to the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Grey Bruce branch for its Friends and Neighbours Club, Men’s Group and Ride Don’t Hide event

• $11,000 to the We CARE Share event

• $10,000 to both the Saugeen First Nation and Nawash Unceded First Nation for community mental health initiatives

• $1,000 to the Alzheimer Society of Grey Bruce

 

“Bruce Power and its partners launched the #BreakTheSilence campaign to create conversations on-line and, hopefully, between friends, family and co-workers during Mental Health Awareness Week,” said Cathy Sprague, Bruce Power’s executive vice-president, human resources.

“The thousands of interactions we saw on-line were overwhelmingly positive and drove home the fact that everybody is touched by mental illness at some point in their lives. We need to continue breaking down barriers to community members who need to reach out for assistance in their time of need.”

 

Sprague added there was such a flurry of on-line activity that it was difficult to get an accurate count of shares, though the number is believed to have exceeded 10,000.

Phil Wilson (L), vice-president, nuclear operations, at Bruce Power, presents a cheque for $25,000 to Mike Hannon, director of the chemical dependency program, and Mike McGilvery, director of the recovery support and alumni relations, at the Westover Treatment Centre; the money will go toward the recovery support program which operates locally; photos courtesy of Bruce Power

Christine John (L), communications specialist at Bruce Power, presents a cheque for $11,000 to the We CARE Share Project, represented by Michelle Scobie, Keystone Child, Youth and Family Services; Yolanda Cameron , Wes for Youth On-line; Ann-Marie Deas, Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board; Jackie Ralph, Canadian Mental Health Association Grey Bruce; and Andrew Drake, Choices Drug and Alcohol Counselling for Youth