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The Lucknow Sentinel, 2016-05-04, Page 11Wednesday, May 4, 2016 • Lucknow Sentinel 11 '41111FAIPP:i111 Darryl Coote/Reporter Bruce Power acting CEO Kevin Kelly speaks to roughly 50 local media, politicians and medical professionals about his company's new social media campaign #BreakTheSilence to encourage people suffering from mental illness to seek help. Bruce Power social media campaign works to break stigma around mental health Darryl Coote Reporter Bruce Power kicked off Mental Health Awareness Week by launching a social media campaign to raise money for local health initia- tives and work to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Inspired by last year's 'Let's Talk' social media campaign by Bell Canada, the private nuclear power plant operator unveiled its #BreakIheSilence hashtag campaign May 2 in front of local media, politi- cians and medical profession- als at the Bruce Power Visi- tors' Centre. For every like or share of #BreakTheSilience on Face - book, Twitter and Instagram during Mental Health Aware- ness Week from May 2-8, Bruce Power will donate $1 to local mental health initiatives such as the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Grey Bruce Health Centre up to $80,000. Bruce Power acting CEO Kevin Kelly said his company could have donated the money directly to the organi- zations, but it's the campaign that will hopefully encourage people to open up about mental health. "Break The Silence is about starting to talk about it early, increase the awareness, have the conversations and most importantly feel comfortable in doing that," he said. If the campaign surpasses its ceiling of 80,000 likes, com- ments or shares, Kelly said Bruce Power will look at other opportunities to provide assis- tance on this issue. Bruce Power Vice President of Corporate Affairs James Scongack said the money will also go to groups working with those suffering from addiction. "By the simple click of the button we will help to break the stigma," Scongack said during the ceremony to the backdrop of the campaign's new website. Greg Nadjiwon, chief of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, said it's good that efforts are being made to tear down the wall of silence around mental health. "I don't think there's any- one in this room that can say in their walk in life that they didn't have to call out for help," he said to the 50 people in the audience. The chief then detailed an emotional personal story about a nervous breakdown he experienced while in high school and that if it wasn't for people recognizing he needed help, he might have dropped out of school. "Back in '77, it was some- thing that you carried, human garbage cans taking all these issues and stuffing them down," he said. Colonization has had grave effects upon his people, he said, and it's necessary to remove the stigma around the issues of mental health, so these issues can be addressed. 'We have to reach out ... the willingness to do that is going to take us a whole lot further than drawing lines in the sand," he said to a dead quiet room. Kincardine mayor Anne Eadie said an issue facing those who suffer from men- tal health issues is that it can be hidden and ignored, but at a cost. Eadie said she hopes this initiative, and those like it, will foster an environment where those suffering from these issues can be free to seek help. "Sometimes people have gone too far down the path and it's very difficult for them to return to a more ful- filling life," she said. When groups such as Bruce Power and leaders such as those in the audi- ence take on this sort of ini- tiative it inspires others to follow, she concluded. Along with the social media campaign, Bruce Power released an informa- tive website, www.breakthe- silencebgh.com, to give employees and the public information and assistance on mental health issues.