Bell Let’s Discuss marketing campaign adverts are ‘terrible’, just for ‘shock worth’, critics say

Set off warning: The content material and commercials featured on this article could also be disturbing to some readers.

When you or a beloved one is struggling, go to talksuicide.ca. You can too name Discuss Suicide Canada toll free at 1-833-456-4566. Québec residents can name 1 866 APPELLE (277-3553).

Bell Canada’s annual psychological well being marketing campaign day, Let’s Discuss, is receiving criticism in its thirteenth 12 months. Whereas many throughout the nation took to their social media to advertise or participate within the day, together with main companies and services just like the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Ottawa Senators, Toronto’s CAMH hospital, the Toronto Movie Competition and Calgary Police, some Canadian viewers and consultants are sharing a distinct view.

This 12 months, the marketing campaign’s tv ads and billboards have struck a nerve. Some really feel the grave subject material, which addresses points like suicide and nervousness, is sensationalizing the subject, in addition to has the potential to negatively set off individuals with psychological well being points.

Others level out that extra must be performed for psychological well being within the nation, the place it may typically be difficult, convoluted and costly to entry the best companies.

Others had been important of the companies intention. Some put a highlight on Bell Media’s employment practices and up to date controversy over the firing of anchor Lisa LaFlamme.

The Let’s Discuss marketing campaign first launched in 2010, with the intention of making a dialogue round psychological well being points. It has raised tens of tens of millions of {dollars} in the direction of funding greater than 1,400 group grants and varied psychological well being applications and analysis. In keeping with the Let’s Discuss web site, one third of Canadians say they’ve taken motion associated to psychological well being since Let’s Discuss first started.