Reflections on Mental Health and #BellLetsTalk
As most of you on social media already know, this past Thursday (January 28th) was the 11th annual Bell Lets Talk Day. Most years, I have enthusiastically shared Bell’s posts, alongside everyone else. But this year I felt uncomfortable doing so, and so I decided to read, reflect, and write instead (which is what I often do, when I feel uncomfortable or unsettled about something). In a recent opinion piece in the Rabble, Andrew McEwan writes: “(Bell) Let's Talk takes up significant room in public discussion of mental illness in Canada, and it's revealing to question the campaign's framing of mental illness, as well as its ties to a capitalist understanding of health. Bell Let's Talk simultaneously individualizes the issue of mental illness and corporatizes the solution.” https://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/views-expressed/2021/01/beyond-wellness-how-bell-lets-talk-limits-our-understanding
Today I want to acknowledge the activists, groups and individuals, who take issue with corporate #BellLetsTalk Day. I want to acknowledge the people who are harmed by the values, beliefs and/or actions of Bell Canada. https://globalnews.ca/news/6426869/mental-health-stigma/
But at the same time, I want to take a more nuanced perspective. I want to talk about my own personal experience with mental health. And I want to acknowledge the role that social media campaigns such as this one, have helped me (at least at the beginning of my mental health journey). Throughout this post, I am sharing some articles I found helpful, written by others far more knowledgeable than me, about issues that are quite complex, and show reasons why the Bell campaign is not as helpful or positive as we think. But I also want to share some of my own personal reflections.
As some of you may know, I have struggled with mental health issues for the past 10 (or arguably 15-20) years, although for quite some time, it went undiagnosed and untreated. In recent years, I have become more open about some of my struggles. In turn, labeling my struggles as mental illness, and having others aware of them as well, has helped me deal with the shame and stigma of feeling or acting the way I do. And it has helped me feel less alone in my struggles (most days, at least). While at university in my early 20’s, I was significantly struggling with mental health issues, specifically depression & anxiety, which were impacting my school, work and relationships. I didn’t know where to go for help, or who to talk to, and was ashamed to tell my family or friends. Eventually I had no choice but to open up to my parents, and one of my professors, who all encouraged me to seek professional help. Although it was definitely a relief to have even just a few people in my life become aware of my struggles, the journey to get the help I needed was still a roller coaster. After meeting with my family doctor at the university, and lots of trial and error with different medications, I eventually found one that worked for me. And after meeting periodically with 3 different counsellors (due to different eligibility requirements, long wait times at the university, different service options, the fit with myself and the counsellor, and/or my own willingness to speak with a stranger and admit I needed help), I eventually found a counsellor that was “ok”, although I wouldn’t say that he was a great fit for me. But at the time, it was better than nothing, and I was sick of “shopping around” for counsellors, and sharing and re-hashing my story with someone new. As a university student, these services were all free to me, or at least included in my tuition, which I was very grateful for. But I definitely found barriers to accessing the mental health system, which surprised me, as most of my life I have experienced a lot of privilege. But I soon found out that the mental health system in Ontario does not work as well as it should, and does not always support those who it aims to support, at least not in the best way. Despite being a white, middle class, educated young person, there were barriers for me to ask for help, and barriers for me to receive that help, even after I asked and advocated for myself.
This was not the first time I would deal with barriers to accessing the mental health system, and I know it will not be the last time either (until things in Ontario drastically change). I continue to struggle with my mental health, even now in my 30’s, although some days are better than others. At times though, the mental health care system continues to be inadequate for my needs. And although I am doing ok for the most part these days, I know (from experience!) that things can drastically change in an instant.
So as you can read, this is not necessarily meant to be a feel-good story, although I hope it still provides some hope and awareness to others. But my story is not one where I have “overcome” mental illness. Yes, I have overcome struggles many times over my lifetime, and I know I will continue to do so. But that does not mean it isn’t exhausting. That doesn’t mean I’m not tired. Mental illness (even on my good days), impacts me daily. It impacts every aspect of my life (my relationships, my work, my home life, my physical health, etc). My anxiety and depression is chronic, and so will likely never go away. Yes, there are many things I can do as an individual, to help cope with or manage the symptoms. I now meet with an (amazing!) counsellor every month and take my medications daily (both paid for in full, by my health benefits through work). I practice self-care (in a variety of forms), and try to give myself compassion (although most days this is still hard). But not everything is in my control (due to the mental illness itself, as well as external factors such as stigma and systemic issues). Despite everything though, I consider myself privileged (except for on my worst days), and I do not take this for granted.
Over the years, and especially the 3 years that I was working as a social worker in various roles, I discovered how extremely ill-equipped the mental health system in Ontario is, and how it benefits those in privilege, and shames, blames, neglects or harms those who are marginalized. The barriers I have faced over the years are nothing compared to the barriers many others in Ontario face. Personally, it has been overwhelmingly hard for me to navigate the mental health care system: the long wait list for services, paying out of pocket for medications and counselling (before I had a full-time permanent job, with benefits), and jumping through hoops to be eligible for and/or access services. But I have seen how it is much harder, unjust and even inhumane for many others: for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), people living on the street, people surviving on OW or ODSP and/or the working poor, the LGBTQ population, refugees or immigrants, adults who are illiterate and/or struggle with English as a second language, women in situations of domestic abuse, children or youth in care, people with physical and/or developmental disabilities, people with more “severe” mental illnesses such as bipolar type 1, schizophrenia, or borderline personality disorder, people with concurrent disorders (struggling with both mental health and addictions), etc. Just as in every other system in society - sexism, homophobia, racism, prejudice, ethnocentrism, transphobia, fatphobia, classism, ableism, etc., all exist in the mental health care system as well.
I’m sharing my story and things I have witnessed because - although in some ways it is unique - in many other ways it is not. And if people spoke about it more, we would realize we aren’t as alone as we think. And we would realize we need to act, not only to end stigma, but to bring about systemic change.
https://brenebrown.com/downloads/
I love this quote by Brené Brown, one of my favourite authors. She’s a social worker / professor / researcher / storyteller. I have it printed off, and hung it in my “home” office. I find it both challenging and encouraging, and applicable to all aspects of my life.
Although I think Bell Let’s Talk still has “some” merit, I believe it could do better. And ultimately our society, leaders, governments, health care systems, work places, communities, families and individuals, have to do better. People’s lives and emotional wellbeing depend on it.
I believe that the personal is political. Just because you don’t “do” politics, doesn’t mean you aren’t engaging in politics. Everyone “does” politics, whether they realize it or not. Not acting or speaking out, is also “doing” politics.
The #BellLetsTalk movement often makes it seem that mental health is just an individual issue, or that we are “all in this together”. This may be true, but this is not the whole story. Systemic issues can cause mental health problems. As Anna Sui and Erika Katzman write in their recent article in the Conversation: “Bell, let’s talk about colonialism, racism, homophobia, fatphobia, sanism and ableism. These are the root causes of both stigma and mental illness.” https://theconversation.com/bell-lets-talk-about-colonialism-racism-and-ableism-153823
Although people of all different backgrounds can struggle with mental illness, it is those with privileges that are the ones able to afford and/or advocate for the best care, while those on the margins, continue to stay there and do not receive the help or dignity they deserve. Just like living in a pandemic, where we are all in the same storm, but we are not all in the same boat, the same can be said about people living with mental illness.
Another criticism of #BellLetsTalk is that, although it is great that Bell is giving lots of money to local mental health initiatives every year, we as Canadians should be stepping up and advocating for our governments (at all levels) to be adequately funding health care, mental health care, and social service agencies. When corporations support health and/or mental health initiatives, this lets governments off the hook. Currently there is a huge shortage of psychiatrists in Ontario. Meanwhile, the current provincial government has cut funding to the mental health care system. And our mental health workers (in particular nurses and social workers, who are primarily women) continue to be overworked and underpaid.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-incentives-reverse-psychiatrist-shortage-1.4778435
Health care is supposed to be a universal right in Canada, yet for many citizens, permanent residents and/or refugees, it is not. And health is so interconnected, not only with physical health and mental health, but there are other social determinants of health, such as income, employment, gender, education, early child development, etc. https://ontario.cmha.ca/provincial-policy/social-determinants/
And even if people want to think that the Bell Lets Talk campaign is an altruistic act on behalf of the corporation, no one can deny that it is also a great marketing campaign for them. Thousands of Canadians tweet and share posts with Bell’s name and logo on it (free advertising!) every year. And then they praise themselves (and Bell) for doing this. On top of this, there has been many allegations made against Bell, that they do not actually “walk the talk”. They do not treat their employees or their customers well.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/bell-employees-stressed-by-sales-targets-1.4418876
I have to admit though, when this campaign started 11 years ago on social media, I was right there with everyone else, sharing the posts, changing my profile photo on facebook, and being grateful that Bell was donating 5 cents, thanks to my actions. And this campaign, and other similar social media campaigns, initially helped me to realize that I was not alone, and helped me open up more to friends and family about my struggles. Today, I would say I am mostly indifferent to the campaign, but I know that some people struggling with mental health issues can find this campaign triggering.
And as I continue to have more (adverse) experiences with the mental health care system, and see and hear about other people struggling to navigate the system as well, I realize that while talking is important, it is only one small piece of the puzzle. So while talking about it one day a year is nice, I wonder what others could do (myself included), the other 364 days of the year. How about hearing “average” people talk about their struggles and their resiliencies (and not just listening to Canadian celebrities or successful business men and women). How about self reflecting on our own biases about mental health, physical health, and disability. We could be voting for politicians (at all levels of government), that “walk the talk”, and take real action with their policies and their funding, rather than just speaking empty words. Allowing people to be vulnerable, and share their thoughts, feelings, and emotions with us, without judging, shaming, brushing them off, or trying to “fix” them. How about building workplace cultures that do not discriminate against mental health and/or disabilities. How about acknowledging that mental health is interconnected with so many other issues in our world, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, fatphobia, the environment, etc. How about being kind, caring, compassionate and empathetic (rather than sympathetic) to everyone we meet, not only with our words, but with our actions.
To quote Bell’s 2021 theme “Now more than ever, every action counts”. I personally believe that this slogan should mean so much more, than what it actually does in the Bell campaign. Sharing a facebook post that prompts Bell to give 5 cents to mental health initiatives is one action we can take. But it will not do much, unless that one action is followed by other actions: educating ourselves, talking with others, listening to those with lived experiences of mental illness, engaging in self-reflection, and then acting some more. I know we are all tired (especially with the added layer of the pandemic), but let’s try to do more, if we can. Even just changing the things we are already doing, so that our actions are working at the root causes of mental health and stigma, rather than offering band aid solutions. It is so important. According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada: “In 2016, 7.5 million people in Canada were living with a mental health problem or illness - that’s one in five people in any given year.” https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/case-for-investing-backgrounder
So again, “now more than ever, every action counts”. But please – let’s not just talk - let’s act!
#BellLetsTalk #BellLetsTalkDay #EndTheStigma #MentalHealth #Wellness #PersonalisPolitical #BellLetsTalkPrisons #BellWalkTheTalk #Integrity
Thanks for being open in sharing some of your story and the challenges people face
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