By Megan Pounder [1]
BELLEVILLE – The Canadian Armed Forces [2] teamed up with Bell Let’s Talk Day [3] to talk about overcoming the stigma of mental-health issues.
On Wednesday, the seventh annual Let’s Talk Day, the Department of National Defence [4] and the Forces held a panel discussion about mental health at National Defence Headquarters [5] in Ottawa. Participants included Bell spokesperson Mary Walsh, Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer Kevin West, and Canadian Forces health services mental-health adviser Colonel Rakesh Jetly.
Closer to home, Canadian Forces Base Trenton [6] also participated in the initiative.
Lisa Refausse, the manager of health promotion at CFB Trenton, told QNet News Friday that the base was completely on-board with Bell Let’s Talk day.
“We’re definitely a collaborator and partner with the initiative, because mental fitness and mental health is one of our portfolios for the Canadian Armed Forces,” Rafausse said. “We regard it as important as physical fitness.”
To promote the day, the base gave our special toques and hung banners on its gates reminding people to talk and text to raise money for the cause.
As well, the base’s commander, Col. Colin Keiver, emailed everyone there to remind them about the initiative and “the importance of mental health that day and every day,” she said. “That email also went out to remind people to tweet but also to feel free to wear the (toques) with (their) uniform on Wednesday.”
CFB Trenton also sent a plane carrying toques to military personnel stationed at CFB Alert near the North Pole, she said, and Bell Let’s Talk tweeted about it.
Wow! @CanadianForces [7] Station Alert recognized #BellLetsTalk [8] Day from the world’s most northerly permanently inhabited location. @RCAF_ARC [9] pic.twitter.com/fKYWaHv73l [10]
— Bell Let’s Talk (@Bell_LetsTalk) January 25, 2017 [11]
The military has been proactive about breaking the stigma surrounding mental-health issues and making sure people know they’re not alone and that they can talk about it, Refausse said.
“This topic is no stranger to the Canadian Armed Forces; they have embraced it, supported it, facilitated it and accommodated it for many years.”
Noting that many people suffering from mental illness still struggle with gossip, shame and fear of losing their jobs, she added: “The biggest piece here is just the shame. We still have people that regard somebody with a mental illness (with) a negative attitude. And that’s why, as Canadians, this is so important. Because we’re part of the Canadian population as well.”
The base has many programs that offer a wide array of help for people in the military and their families, she said. Her department, health promotion, is one of them.
“Our mandate is strengthening the Forces, but we come at it from the prevention perspective.”
Bell Let’s Talk helps the department reach out to everyone at the base, she said.
“Thousands of people have benefited from the messaging, the programming and the resources that are in place.”