Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant to support staff mental health first aid training
VON in Nova Scotia is pleased to receive an $11,000 grant from the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund. The grant will provide mental health first aid training to VON’s Community Support and Services (‘CSS’) staff who serve clients living with mental health challenges.
“Our team supports many clients who are experiencing loneliness and isolation due to personal health challenges and as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. At times, our staff may be their only line of contact and support. With the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant, we’ll now be able to provide important mental health first aid training to VON CSS staff,” said Jeff Densmore, Regional Executive Director, VON.
In addition to in-home nursing care and home support, VON offers community programs like Meals-on-Wheels for seniors and those who require extra support with mealtime, and Adult Day Programs for dependent adults and persons with dementia throughout Nova Scotia.
“VON’s CSS staff and volunteers have provided emotional and social support to clients during safety check-in calls or while delivering meals. We work to help people with a variety of health, emotional and social challenges and we are committed to providing the best care possible to those vulnerable clients. We thank Bell Let’s Talk for supporting this training opportunity, which will help expand the scope of care that our CSS staff can provide to clients who require extra support,” said Jeff.
“Bell Let’s Talk is pleased to support mental health first aid training for VON’s CSS team so they can provide more support and care for people living with mental health challenges,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund has provided hundreds of grants to
mental health organizations in communities throughout the country, like VON, that are working to increase access to mental health care through evidence-based programs like mental health first aid.”
The Bell Let’s Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let’s Talk Day and significant funding of community care and access, research, and workplace leadership initiatives. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Pictured: Chantal Davie, Senior Manager, VON Greater Halifax, and William Jost, Director, Corporate Sales, Bell, at the VON Greater Halifax office on November 25, 2021.
