Aaron Cox posted:

I really don't think there is much substance to this article. Screen time, social media and all-the-time internet access is the reality of today. Not everyone abuses or is negatively affected by these mediums just as not every person who drinks is addicted to alcohol. I agree that there does seem to be some sort of shallowness to the campaign but it does get people talking. Moreover, I agree with the possible negative effects of these new communication mediums.

However, it is not as if this is the only campaign, the only resource, the only group, that is providing resources and supporting communities with mental health. Unless we are trying to restructure the entirety of our economy (shifting away from capitalism, thus eliminating the drive of private companies to couple profit with social investment) and we continue to elect governments that support austerity, shifting the social service sector towards private and non-profit markets, this is the landscape we must deal with. In an alternate reality, if no company was donating or making these concerted efforts, we would be blaming them for inaction. 

Funny enough, I am using my computer, reading this online article from a private company, that utilizes every media platform available that is being critiqued. I think that the content matters not just the medium! And Bell is creating helpful content! Oh, and by the way, I use Rogers

I completely agree Aaron! Bell is not to blame for mental health prevalence, stigma, and or self-esteem issues. It is merely a medium, as you put, a vessel by which content is delivered.

People like to make the argument that perhaps Bell is enabling mental health issues but perhaps it is also enabling change - which is exactly the purpose of the BellLetsTalk campaign.

For a campaign that brought in $7.2M in grants (800k being put towards Indigenous communities), not to mention the level of engagement they reached - just over 1B, it's hard to point the finger at them and say they are the problem when in fact they are doing everything right to be part of the solution. 

"If no company was donating or making these concerted efforts, we would be blaming them for inaction." Well-put.