CTV announced today a slate of special programming on Wednesday, Feb. 9 in support of Bell Let’s Talk Day, an initiative dedicated to encouraging a national conversation about mental health in Canada in order to eliminate the stigma attached to mental illness. CTV’s family of properties, including CTV, CP24, TSN, MuchMusic and MTV, present a day of original programming focusing on mental health. Bell Let’s Talk Day at CTV features candid interviews with Olympian Clara Hughes, Margaret Trudeau and TSN’s Michael Landsberg, expert commentary and advice, and first-hand accounts from Canadians of all ages.
On Bell Let’s Talk Day on Feb. 9, Bell will contribute $.05 for every long distance call and text message its customers make to support mental health related initiatives across the country. Additionally, Canadians are encouraged to engage in dialogue about mental health through social media, and access information about the mental health community on CTV.ca or www.bell.ca/letstalk.
Below is a full list of new programming in support of Bell Let’s Talk on Wednesday, Feb. 9 (all times ET; visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times).
CTV:
CANADA AM:
CANADA AM looks at the signs and stigma of mental illness with Mary Deacon, Chair, Bell Mental Health Initiative. Also on the show this morning are celebrity panelists Clara Hughes, Margaret Trudeau and Michael Landsberg who open up about their personal struggle and tell us how getting help changed their lives. CANADA AM airs weekdays beginning at 6 a.m. on CTV.
THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW:
THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW’s Strong Women series (an inspirational week-long look at how women can achieve their ultimate career goals at any age) features Canadian Olympic Champion Clara Hughes on Feb. 9. Hughes shares secrets to her success in achieving the Olympic dream and why she became an avid spokesperson for the Bell Let’s Talk campaign to help reduce the stigma around mental illness. THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW airs weekdays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on CTV.
ETALK:
ETALK is supporting Bell Let’s Talk with a week’s worth of programming dedicated to getting the conversation started about mental health. On Monday, Feb. 7, Lainey talks candidly with Bell Let’s Talk spokesperson Clara Hughes; on Feb. 8, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau sits down with her mother-in-law Margaret for an in-depth chat about mental illness; on Feb. 9, Clara Hughes stops by the ETALK newsroom to chat more with Ben Mulroney about her role as the Bell Let’s Talk Day spokesperson; and on Feb. 11, ETALK sits down with OFF THE RECORD host Michael Landsberg. ETALK airs weeknights at 7 p.m. on CTV and 6 p.m. on E!.
Additionally, the new 30-minute special ETALK INK: Margaret Trudeau, airing Feb. 5 at 5:30 p.m. and Feb. 9 at 1 p.m. on CTV, follows Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau as she sits down with Canada’s former first lady Margaret Trudeau in her Quebec home to have a personal and revealing conversation about Margaret’s new book Changing My Mind and her triumph over mental illness. Margaret and her daughter-in-law also discuss family, her “wild” days partying with many celebrities and why she was not a picture-perfect Prime Minister’s wife. Justin Trudeau also speaks about his mom’s journey through mental illness.
CTV NEWS and CTV NEWS CHANNEL:
CTV Toronto will have Clara Hughes on TALKBACK TORONTO at 12 p.m. where she will take calls from viewers and talk to Ken Shaw and Christine Bentley about her involvement in mental health awareness. In addition, CTV News Channel and local CTV stations across the country will tell Clara’s story on Feb. 9.
CP24:
All day long, CP24 carries on a conversation about mental health issues and awareness for Bell Let’s Talk Day starting at 7:40 a.m. on CP24 BREAKFAST with Olympian and spokesperson for Bell Let’s Talk Day Clara Hughes. The day culminates with a one-hour special on Mental Health awareness with Stephen LeDrew on LEDREW LIVE at 9 p.m.
MTV:
MTV has produced new MTV IMPACT segments for MTV NEWS on Monday, Feb. 7 and Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 6:26 p.m. and 8 p.m. These segments feature youth talking about their experiences with mental illness. Additionally, the MTV on-screen bug will be blue, the Bell Let’s Talk logo colour, to raise awareness and support the initiative on Feb. 9.
Additionally, beginning at 2 p.m., MTV airs back-to-back TRUE LIFE episodes addressing mental health themes. The episodes explore bi-polar disorder, autism, schizophrenia, and body dysmorphic disorder. All episodes are available at mtv.ca.
Online, MTV has developed a microsite mtv.ca/letstalk to house mental health content. The page also includes information on the Bell Let’s Talk campaign.
MUCHMUSIC
Beginning at 7 p.m. ET, MuchMusic airs back-to-back episodes of DEGRASSI with mental health themed storylines. MuchMusic Host, Lauren Toyota delivers information to viewers about Bell Let’s Talk Day through live interstitials throughout the day.
TSN
On OFF THE RECORD at 5 p.m., host Michael Landsberg sits down with Clara Hughes to talk candidly about mental health and its affect on her Olympic and sporting career.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter: twitter.com/CTV_PR
