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In tough times, talking helps

In tough times, talking helps On Tuesday, Bell announced that its Let's Talk Campaign will contribute at least $100 million dollars to mental health initiatives across Canada by 2020. It's a significant commitment to a project that has had a measurable im

On Tuesday, Bell announced that its Let’s Talk Campaign will contribute at least $100 million dollars to mental health initiatives across Canada by 2020. It’s a significant commitment to a project that has had a measurable impact in our Yukon communities.

The desire to communicate is a fundamental part of being human. Talking about how we feel helps us to define who we are - our values, beliefs and relationships take shape through how we express ourselves to others. Through the course of a life there are those difficult times when we feel like we have no one to turn to and say, “This is me… this is how I feel… this is who I am… I’m important.”

Sometimes loneliness and isolation limits who we can reach out to. Sometimes there’s no one we feel we can trust with the “big problems,” and sometimes the feelings are just so heavy that we think nobody out there will understand.

The Yukon Distress and Support Line was created with the position that talking helps, especially when we have a listener who can keep things in confidence, isn’t going to judge and will be there in our times of need. Since opening, volunteers at the support line have taken over 170 calls from Yukoners who needed to talk about things like grief, sadness, life events and sometimes even suicide. We are open to anyone who needs us, from anywhere in the Yukon.

The Yukon Distress and Support Line operates almost entirely through the dedication of trained volunteers who want to “be there” for their communities. It is through the hard work of these volunteers that our service can continue.

In November 2014, Northwestel and the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund made a commitment to the creation and ongoing operations of the support line. This partnership allows us to maintain a confidential, anonymous and safe space for anyone in need of assistance.

Together, Many Rivers, the Yukon Distress and Support Line, Northwestel and Bell Let’s Talk are working to open up the lines of communication about emotional and mental health. If you need to talk, please call us toll-free at 1-844-533-3030.

Jordan Aslett,

MSW Many Rivers Counselling and Support Services