North Bay is Talking!

Clara’s Big Ride for Bell Let’s Talk

January 28 is the 4th annual Bell Let’s Talk Day and the North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation (NBRHCF) is inviting you to “start the conversation”. Use this day to talk about mental health with your friends,
family and co-workers – because simply talking can help to break stigma surrounding mental illness.

North Bay is talking! In the fall Bell announced the NBRHCF and Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Nipissing Regional Branch as Community Champions to host Clara’s Big Ride for Bell Let’s Talk. North Bay Championship
Weekend will be the platform for Clara on June 28th and 29th.

Starting February 5th, high schools from across the district will be participating in a photoVOICE project, which will act as a cornerstone for North Bay Championship Weekend. photoVOICE is an internationally recognized initiative,
teaching self expression through photography. This project will see students ranging in age from grade seven through to university and will focus on mental wellness in our community.

“Because photoVOICE begins in February and will continue through to April, students will have the opportunity to participate in a conversation about mental health for over three months, continuing the momentum started by Bell Let’s Talk Day.” says Tammy Morison, Chief Development Officer, NBRHCF. “Students have the chance to share their perception of mental wellness in our community, in turn, participating in a national conversation at a local level.”

Students who participate in photoVOICE will be given the opportunity to have breakfast with six-time Olympian, Clara Hughes on Sunday, June 28th, at the Breakfast for Young Champions being sponsored on location at McDonald’s,
Lakeshore Drive.

Bell Media will be donating 5 cents to mental health initiatives in Canada for every text message and long distance call made by Bell customers. They will also donate 5 cents for every share of Bell Let’s Talk Images on Facebook and
for every #BellLetsTalk tweet.

For more information about photoVOICE contact kate.bondett@nbrhc.on.ca.

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Contact:
Tammy Morison
Chief Development Officer
NBRHC Foundation
705-495-8129
Tammy.morison@nbrhc.on.ca

Backgrounder:

NBRHC Foundation
The Foundation raises funds to ensure that North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) can continue to expand services, develop new programs, and bring leading-edge treatment and medical technology to the people of North Bay and regional communities.

NBRHC provides specialized mental health services to all of northeast Ontario, with facilities in North Bay and Sudbury. The specialized regional mental health centre provides services to people suffering from severe and persistent mental illness throughout the region of northeast Ontario – an area of 300,000 square kilometres with a population of 511,000. In addition, NBRHC provides district acute care services to North Bay and surrounding communities, an area of 30,700 square kilometres with a population of more than 129,000.

CMHA Nipissing Regional Branch
We are dedicated to building a community which accepts people with mental illness and promotes mental health.

A publicly funded charitable organization, we engage in programs and activities designed to promote partnership, cooperation and accountability among all those concerned with mental health: consumers, family, service providers and the community. Several of CMHA Nipissing’s programs are funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. We serve the district of Nipissing and the Northeast quadrant of Parry Sound.

The CMHA Nipissing Regional Branch offers a variety of services such as Social Recreation Services, Housing Services, Case Management and Outreach Services, Justice Services and Mental Health Promotion, Information and Education Services for people living with psychiatric disabilities. It also provides mental health information to the community.

photoVOICE
This internationally recognized program is an opportunity to help youth find a voice to make their lives better. The program, being facilitated from January to April will result in an exhibit during Clara’s time in North Bay at the evening fundraiser and youth Breakfast for Young Champions.

photoVoice participants receive an automatic invitation to the Breakfast for Young Champions with Clara Hughes on June 29, 2014.