St. John’s, NL – Today, the St. John’s Women’s Centre received a $25,000 Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant for the Right Here, Right Now drop-in counselling program for women. Right Here, Right Now is the first and only individual counselling service for women of its kind in Canada.
Women’s Centre staff and supporters gathered with representatives from Bell this morning at an event to celebrate the $25,000 funding, which will allow for the expansion of counselling services offered at the centre.
“Many women face a complexity of issues and long wait lists impede their ability to access appropriate services,” said Dana Warren, Clinical Team Lead and Counsellor, St. John’s Women’s Centre. “Securing free drop-in counselling services guarantees that we can deliver a therapeutic service that addresses women’s unique mental health needs when they need it the most. Right Here, Right Now is essential to women’s wellness. As we continue to grow, Bell Let’s Talk supports the future of a much needed and lauded community mental health program.”
The Right Here, Right Now program was created to improve access to mental health care for women in our community, especially those coping with lengthy wait times for “traditional” mental health services. Twice a week, on Tuesdays from 12-7 p.m. and Wednesdays from 12-5 p.m., the Women’s Centre provides free and confidential counselling. No appointment or referral is needed to receive service.
“Bell Let’s Talk is proud to support the St. John’s Women’s Centre’s Right Here, Right Now drop-in counselling program to help women in Newfoundland with mental health issues get the care they need,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “Having doubled the annual Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund to $2 million in 2018, we are helping some 120 organizations in communities across Canada, like St. John’s Women’s Centre, who are making a difference for those affected by mental illness.”
Bell Let’s Talk Day is January 30
The Bell Let’s Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let’s Talk Day on January 30, and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives. On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for each of the following interactions, at no extra cost to participants:
- Talk: Every mobile call and every long distance call made by Bell wireless and phone customers
- Text: Every text message sent by Bell wireless customers
- Twitter: Every tweet and retweet using #BellLetsTalk, featuring the special Bell Let’s Talk emoji, and Bell Let’s Talk Day video view at com/Bell_LetsTalk
- Facebook: Every view of the Bell Let’s Talk Day video at com/BellLetsTalk and use of the Bell Let’s Talk frame
- Instagram: Every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view at com/bell_letstalk
- Snapchat: Every use of the Bell Let’s Talk filter and video view
To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
About St. John’s Status of Women Council/Women’s Centre
The St. John’s Status of Women Council/Women’s Centre is a feminist organization that since 1972 is continually working to achieve equality and justice through political activism, community collaboration and the creation of a safe and inclusive space for all women in the St. John’s area. The St. John’s Status of Women Council operates the Women’s Centre, Marguerite’s Place Supportive Housing Program and the Safe Harbour Outreach Project.
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Media Contact
Robyn Pike
Development and Communications Coordinator
St. John’s Status of Women Council/Women’s Centre
Tel. 709.753.0220
robyn@sjwomenscentre.ca