You Wanna Feel How It Feels?

by Cait Platt

Now Listening To Placebo’s cover of Running Up That Hill

Not Alone

#BellLetsTalk is today.  And while I’ve seen so many people rejoicing at the opportunity to open up about mental health issues, to fundraise for such a great cause with such a large national company like Bell Canada, I’ve seen so much criticism about the day.  As an American, seeing the word “Bell” attached to this promotion means nothing, I can’t be a Bell customer, I can’t go to their rival, Rogers, and I can’t slam the company for their efforts.

Is this a big marketing campaign? Yeah.  Every tweet you send with #BellLetsTalk, you’re technically advertising for Bell.  But to me, the Bell aspect of it is like sitting down and watching an NFL game and seeing an ad for Cialis, it doesn’t affect me, I’m not running out and buying the drug, but I’m reminded of men out there who can’t get it up.

If it takes a bit of advertising to get people talking about mental health issues, then I’m all for it.  Because while Bell only donates today, hopefully this will spark a conversation that will extend longer than #BellLetsTalk Day.  Could the World Health Organization benefit from Bell’s donations more?  Yes, but how can the money come in if people aren’t talking about it?

We freely talk about erectile disfunction, H1N1, STDs, the flu, and other illnesses but clam up the moment mental health is brought up.

We can’t not talk about mental health.  

Even if we’re not directly affected, I can guarantee you know someone who is struggling with it but is too afraid to talk about it, has tried to and been told to shut up, is afraid that their biological struggle is a sign of weakness, or doesn’t want to be *that* friend.  I’ve witnessed the silent struggles in my circle of friends and I’m tired of it.

So please, just because today is sponsored by Bell doesn’t make it a useless grab at free advertising, it makes today a second day that should spark long-term conversations.  October 10th is World Mental Health Day, but one day a year is not enough.

Conversations should happen daily.

Suffers should not hide behind a stigma.

Participants should not be slammed for using #BellLetsTalk.

There’s so much other bullshit we could rally out there against.

So everyone, let’s talk.

A place to start your conversation:

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. There you’ll find resources, local information, national information, people to help answer your questions, the ability to donate straight to an organization that could use the money, and a place to find comfort.

RAINN: Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network offers resources and help to those affected by and know people who have gone through rape, abuse, or incest.

PTSD suffers can seek help through the Department of Veteran Affairs.  Both the public and veterans can receive help through the programs.