MLC promotes mental health campaign for Punjabi Community Health Services
The Bell Canada “Let’s Talk” movement is the largest corporate commitment to mental health here in Canada, and MLC is proud to have been able to support one of its Community Foundation partners.
The Let’s Talk campaign continues to make a real difference in the overarching perception of mental wellness strategies by not just the everyday person, but also the companies that employ them.
Since its launch in 2011, nearly 1.5 million messages of support have been shared on Bell Let’s Talk Day, over $139M has been raised to fund mental health initiatives, and over 1,400 organizations are providing mental health supports and services thanks to this amazing ongoing initiative.
Its staple hashtag — #LetsTalk — has opened the door on a very broad scale for smaller organizations to help narrow the niche for initiatives directed at making an impact within specific communities.
Mental health support for a specific community group
Since 2014, Punjabi Community Health Services (PCHS) has served Calgary’s diverse South Asian community as a trusted source for mental wellness, addiction, and family support programming.
Thanks to the hard work of its staff, board, volunteers and partners, this charitable organization has been able to offer a wide range of counselling services that empower its users through safe, accessible, and culturally-informed outreach services.
But how many people within this community have been able, or willing, to make use of the amazing services they provide?
In late 2022, MLC proudly stepped in to help launch PCHS’ most recent awareness campaign,"How are you, really?” to help extend its reach in 2023.
Rather than taking a blanket approach, this new initiative allows us to really refine our approach to elevating a mental health campaign.
Throughout the first month of this year, key messages, social media posts, and media outreach elevated the reach of this charity organization’s programming with MLC’s targeted communications tactical plan culminating in a successful launch on January 24.
Highlighting the accessibility and quality of care, and encouraging the strengthening of the community through self empowerment and family care, the key objective of this campaign has been to encourage honest conversations surrounding mental health while showcasing the culturally and linguistically appropriate programs to Calgary's South Asian Community provided by this initiative funded by Bell Let’s Talk Canada.
From isolation, to addiction, to gender-based violence, mental health concerns vary within different age groups within the community.
By opening the conversation around mental health and wellness in the South Asian community, individuals and families can be seen and heard and understand it’s okay to be honest about what they may feel otherwise wouldn’t be.
As campaigns such as these continue to occur, communities will continue to feel safer and more secure, and with these honest conversations taking place, lives will be enriched and empowered through the access of these readily available, culturally specific and appropriate resources.
"We are here to let you know there is help for you and the right kind of help for you and your community. Take the first step and give an honest answer. We can help you improve your well being."
“How are you, really?”