Hey guys, Dc here for our annual promotion of #BellLetsTalk! Mental health is something we face head-on in the Design House. Each year, we text and #hashtag because we know that we need better mental health education, support, and awareness, and we’ll do whatever it takes to get there.

We navigate the impacts of mental health on a daily basis in our work lives, because our lives are our work, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Past and present members of the DcDh fam have shared their mental health stories, and in honour of Bell Let’s Talk it’s time to reflect on a mental health initiative unbelievably close to our hearts: It’s Mental.

“If the word mental makes you uncomfortable or hurts your feelings, that’s ok. We want you to feel uncomfortable about the state of mental healthcare in Newfoundland and Labrador and across the country.”

It’s Mental, man

It’s Mental is a movement, an organization, a verbalization that says, “Our healthcare system isn’t good enough,” and it hits close to home for the Design House team. Myself, Amelia Curran, Roger Maunder, and a small team of other dedicated, deadly people spearheaded what started as a small video campaign. Now, It’s Mental is working to achieve a huge milestone in our master plan: helping our founder Amelia complete classes to become a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor.

This certification will help Amelia train others on the realities of mental health, making our communities better equipped to cope with their various mental health needs, and enhance our effectiveness as advocates for change, something we know Bell Let’s Talk could get behind.

Take action

So this year on Bell Let’s Talk Day, January 31, text and hashtag your heart out, please! For each interaction, 5 cents goes to supporting mental health across Canada.

But why not also do something right here in our community? Visit itsmental.ca to share your story, sign up for the newsletter, and learn more about mental health care resources in Newfoundland and Labrador.

We have a busy 2018 planned, but we need your help: talk to each other and take care of each other. That’s the sanest thing we can do.

Looking forward,

Dc