$260K in funding for mental health programming at 10 organizations across western Canada

Bell Let's Talk chair Mary Deacon poses with a donation check at a Jan. 15, 2025 news conference at Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre in Winnipeg, Man. (Glenn Pismenny/CTV News Winnipeg)

Hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding will flow to nine organizations across Manitoba and western Canada in a bid to bolster wellness and mental health programs.

Bell Let’s Talk announced at a news conference Wednesday that $100,000 from its diversity fund will go to Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, a Winnipeg family resource centre and network.

The money is earmarked for Sacred Connection, its Indigenous-led wellness program offering trauma-informed spaces for healing and cultural connection through traditional teaching and land-based activities.

Meanwhile, another $160,000 will be donated to nine organizations improving mental health outcomes for Manitoba and western Canadian communities.

Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre executive director Tammy Christensen said Manitoba faces some of the highest mental health and addiction levels across the country and one of the highest suicide rates.

She noted Indigenous Manitobans experience poorer mental health and wellness outcomes compared to the general population—a disparity rooted in the ongoing impacts of colonization, racism and intergenerational trauma.

“This funding therefore represents so much more than just financial support. It is an investment in the well-being of our people,” she said.

“For generations, Indigenous communities have faced the erosion of our culture and traditions. However, by reclaiming and nurturing the cultural practices, our communities are beginning to heal.”

Bell Let’s Talk is an annual corporate fundraiser by Bell Media, CTV News Winnipeg’s parent company.

The 15th annual Bell Let’s Talk Day will be marked on Jan. 22.

This year’s event has a focus on youth mental health. The company is matching up to $1 million in funds raised through a text-to-donate campaign, with money going to six youth-serving charities providing free mental health supports and services.

“Today’s young people are the future of our country, and we have to do better,” said Mary Deacon, chair of Bell Let’s Talk.

More details can be found on Bell Let’s Talk’s website.