Olympian Clara Hughes promotes mental health awareness
January 27, 2016 is Bell Let’s Talk Day encouraging those with various mental health issues to speak out and break their silence about their struggles
Former Canadian Olympian Clara Hughes needs to be commended annually for Bell Let’s Talk Day, which creates awareness surrounding mental health issues. This initiative encourages those who battle demons and illnesses in their mind to get help soon while also continuing to share their story with their loved ones and those in their daily contacts.
The 43-year-old former summer and winter Olympian has competed in speed skating, track cycling and road bicycle racing. In the 2002 Winter Olympics, she won a bronze medal. During the 2006 Olympic games, she won a silver and a gold medal. In her home and native land of Canada, she won a bronze medal in the 2010 Winter Olympic games. She was also a four-time participant in the women’s Tour-de-France and won the 1994 Women’s Challenge and the 1997 Liberty Classic.
You would look at Hughes and think she has nothing at all to complain about, as she has everything she would ever dream of. Well, she battled depression which impacted her life and, since retiring in February 2010, has made it her life mission to help those who battle various mental health struggles.
January 27, 2016 will be the sixth annual Bell Let’s Talk Day in Canada, a date where specials will be shared on television encouraging those who battle these demons to continue to share their testimony as to how mental health issues have impacted them.
Bell Canada encourages people, on this day, to use the hashtag #BellLetsTalk on social media. Each time that hashtag is used on this date, a nickel is matched by the Canadian telephone giant to gain funds to help find cures.