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January 30, 2019
TORONTO- Canada’s largest union in the private sector supports the rights of all people to access public mental health care free from barriers.
“To mark Bell Let’s Talk Day, I encourage all people in Canada to demand strengthened access to mental health services through our public health care systems,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Across the country, health care is in crisis. We must unite to protect this public good.”
In Ontario, Unifor members in hospitals and front line services are facing layoff due to budget shortfalls. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 1.6 million Canadians report unmet mental health care needs each year.
“The job of promoting mental wellness is up to every single one of us,” continued Dias. “Through their union workers can support one another as peers, but for sustained medical care we all rely on the same public health care systems. Those systems must be freely accessible for people to get support when facing mental illness or crisis.”
Unifor supports the Bell ‘Let’s Talk’ campaign to raise awareness and funds in support of mental health programs. On Wednesday, January 31, five cents will be donated for every text message, mobile or long distance call made by Bell customers.
Everyone can help to make a difference using social media, as five cents will also be donated for every tweet or Instagram post using #BellLetsTalk, and every time you watch the Bell Let’s Talk video or use the Facebook and Snapchat filter. For details visit: http://letstalk.bell.ca.
Additional information about mental health in the workplace can be found on the Unifor website.
For further information: please contact Unifor Communications Representative Sarah McCue at @email or 416-458-3307 (cell).
