OUA By the Numbers: Bell Let's Talk Edition

Millions of Canadians were called to action in 2011 when Bell Let’s Talk began a new conversation surrounding mental health; a conversation that the Ontario University Athletics is proud to be a part of. With the help of our 20 member institutions, as well as our 9,000+ student athletes, the message of #BellLetsTalk has taken off across Ontario universities, and in the hopes of forwarding this conversation even further, this week’s “By the Numbers” takes a look at the hard-hitting figures surrounding this important day, as well as mental health as a whole from a Canadian perspective.

729,065,654 – 2017 proved to be the best year yet for Bell Let’s Talk Day, with a total of 131,705,010 interactions; nearly doubling the first-year total achieved. The total number of interactions across Bell Let’s Talk platforms since the initiative began in 2011 is 729,065,654, with the hope that 2018 sees the strongest results to date.

3,200,000 – The total number of 12 to 19 year-olds in Canada at risk for developing depression is a staggering 3.2 million.

4,000 – Suicide is the leading cause of death in 15 to 24 year-old Canadians – second only to accidents – as 4,000 people die prematurely each year by suicide.

40 – By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have faced a mental illness.

20 – Over the course of 16 days, the 20 member institutions that make up the OUA will have hosted a collective 20 Bell Let’s Talk games/events, promoting mental health initiatives across the Ontario post-secondary landscape to help spark the conversation and demonstrate that we are all #OneTeamForMentalHealth.

10-20 – It is estimated that 10 to 20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder – the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.

8 – Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some point in their life.

5 – Today, you can make your voice count, and help the fight to end the stigma surrounding mental illness. Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for each of these interactions:

• Text and talk: every text message and call made by Bell Canada
• Twitter: Every tweet using #BellLetsTalk and every Bell Let’s Talk day video view
• Facebook: Every view of the Bell Let's Talk Day video and use of the Bell Let's Talk frame
• Instagram: Every Bell Let’s Talk day video view
• Snapchat: Every use of the Bell Let’s Talk geofilter and video view

1/5 – In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians will personally experience a mental health problem or illness, and only 1 out of 5 children in Canada will actually receive the mental health care they need.