Hub Staff

Bruce Power has begun a week long initiative to #BreakTheSilence on mental illness as part of #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek. May 2 through May 8, Bruce Power will give a dollar towards a local mental health charity, up to $80,000 anytime #BreakTheSilence is posted to social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).

The campaign was launched on May 2 at the Bruce Power Visitor’s Centre with local officials and Chiefs of both Saugeen First Nation and the Chippewas of Nawash in attendance to not only lend their voices in support of the social media initiative, but to also break the silence of how mental health has affected their lives.

Bruce Power Vice President of Corporate Affairs James Scongack highlighted the website www.breakthesilencebgh.com which served as a backdrop for the speakers. The website, created to raise awareness, can easily be shared on social media and features contact information for community mental health organizations.

“Our reason for doing this [#BreakTheSilence campaign] is because funding these organization is not enough. What these organizations need is raw public understanding of the challenges around mental health,” Scongack said as he addressed the crowd.

Scongack hoped that through the initiative people will be encouraged to raise awareness and ultimately break the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Acting Bruce Power President Kevin Kelly added that in starting a conversation, the hope is to avoid situations that become too late to handle. In speaking about how Bruce Power currently helps its employees, “We have various forums onsite where people can speak openly, we have individuals onsite where if the need is there that they can come and bring feeling forward,” said Kelly.

Throughout the week Bruce Power will #BreakTheSilence onsite in support of the Mental Health Awareness Week. There will be group forums about coping with Homewood Health, specialists in the mental health field, speaking onsite, and at the Bruce Power Visitor Centre May 3, at 6 p.m. There will be a Wellness Fair open to all employees that will feature Mark Henick as keynote speaker whose TED Talk videos on Mental Health have over 2 million views on YouTube.

This week Bruce Power will also launch an ongoing campaign called Not Myself Today, which supports a healthy dialogue about Mental Health in the workplace.

Acting Bruce Power President, Kevin Kelly, hopes that Bruce Power can raise awareness and $80,000 for local Mental Health organizations by May 8.

Chippewas of Nawash Chief, Greg Nadjiwon spoke of how mental illness affects every family and community and reflected on how speaking out and asking for help should be praised.

Saugeen Shores Mayor, Mike Smith, was invited to speak at the launch of #BreakTheSilence at Bruce Power Visitor Centre, May 2.