Giving Mental Health the Moment it Deserves

Bell Let’s Talk Day 2026 and what it means for those of us in Motion Picture

January 21, 2026 marks Bell Let’s Talk Day, and with it comes a familiar invitation:

to talk, to check in, to care, and to take action around mental health.

This year’s theme is “Giving mental health the moment it deserves.”

That phrase lands differently depending on where you’re standing right now.

For some, mental health finally feels like something we’re allowed to talk about openly. For others, it still feels risky. And for many working in film and television, mental health isn’t an abstract concept or a once-a-year conversation. It’s something we’ve been managing quietly, often in the background, while juggling uncertainty, long gaps between work, financial stress, and the emotional whiplash that comes with a project-based industry.

So today, we want to slow things down just a bit and ask:

In our industry, and in our own lives, what would it actually look like to give mental health the moment it deserves?

Talking About Mental Health Is Important. Living With it is Harder.

Bell Let’s Talk Day has helped move mental health conversations into the mainstream. Since 2010, Bell has committed nearly $194 million to Canadian mental health initiatives, with another $10 million pledged in 2026 to support access, education, and innovation across the country.

That matters. Funding matters. Awareness matters.

But in film, we also know that talking about mental health doesn’t automatically make it easier to live with.

It doesn’t erase:

• The stress of not knowing when the next call will come

• The pressure to appear “fine” to stay employable

• The isolation that can creep in when you’re not on a show

• The exhaustion that builds after years of unpredictability

Many of us are good at pushing through. We’re problem solvers. We adapt. We get the job done.

But that skill can also make it harder to pause long enough to notice when something’s not okay.

Giving mental health the moment it deserves means not just acknowledging it exists, but recognizing when it’s asking for attention.

Why This Moment Matters Right Now

For the film sector, the last few years have taken a real toll.

• Pandemic disruptions

• Strikes

• Production slowdowns

• Rising cost of living

• Shrinking opportunities.

Even seasoned workers who are used to dry spells have been feeling the strain differently this time. When the gaps stretch longer, when work feels harder to come by, it’s not just finances that take a hit. It’s confidence, identity, routine, and connection.

And when stress becomes chronic, it doesn’t always show up as a crisis. Sometimes it looks like:

• Irritability

• Disengagement

• Trouble sleeping

• Feeling numb or flat

• Avoiding people

• Losing motivation

• A constant low-level anxiety that never quite switches off

Bell Let’s Talk Day invites us to pause and check in; not only with others, but with ourselves.

Talking Is a Start. Listening Is the Work.

We often encourage people to “talk about mental health,” but it’s worth remembering that not everyone knows how to do that.

Some people don’t have the language.Some don’t feel safe enough.Some are worried about being judged, misunderstood, or seen as a risk.

In our industry especially, there can be an unspoken fear that being honest about mental health might cost you work.

So giving mental health the moment it deserves also means:

• Listening without trying to fix

• Letting people share at their own pace

• Resisting the urge to minimize or compare

• Being okay with silence or uncertainty

Sometimes the most supportive thing you can say is simply:

“That sounds really hard. I’m glad you told me.”

Care Looks Different for Everyone

Bell Let’s Talk Day encourages Canadians to care for themselves and others, and that’s worth unpacking a bit.

Self-care isn’t always bubble baths and time off (though those can help). For many film workers, care might look like:

• Reaching out to a colleague you haven’t seen in a while

• Getting back to a basic routine during downtime

• Limiting doom-scrolling or industry gossip that fuels anxiety

• Using a mental health app or tool to check in with your emotions (see our recent blog post)

• Booking a counselling session through your union benefits

• Admitting you’re not okay – even just to yourself

Caring for others doesn’t mean carrying their pain or having the right answers. It can be as simple as checking in, staying present, or helping someone find support when they’re ready.

Learning Helps Reduce Fear and Stigma

One of the most powerful parts of Bell Let’s Talk Day is the emphasis on learning.

The more we understand mental health, the less scary it becomes. The less personal it feels when we struggle. And the easier it is to recognize when something needs attention.

Learning might mean:

• Understanding the difference between stress and burnout

• Recognizing signs of anxiety or depression

• Knowing what resources are available to you and your peers

• Learning how to support someone without overstepping

At Calltime, we’ve seen how access to clear, practical information can make a real difference – especially when it’s tailored to the realities of our industry.

Action Doesn’t Have to Be Big to Matter

Bell Let’s Talk Day also invites us to take action, and that can feel intimidating. But action doesn’t have to be dramatic or public.

Action can be:

• Making one appointment you’ve been putting off

• Sharing a resource with a coworker

• Taking a break before you hit empty

• Setting a boundary that protects your energy

• Checking in on someone who’s gone quiet

• Supporting a mental health initiative in your community

Small actions add up. Especially when they’re sustained beyond a single day.

A Moment and a Reminder

Bell Let’s Talk Day gives mental health a moment. But mental health deserves more than a moment.

It deserves ongoing attention, compassion, and care – especially in an industry built on uncertainty and intensity.

Today can be a reminder to:

• Start a conversation

• Revisit one you’ve been avoiding

• Acknowledge how the last few years have affected you

• Reach out, or let someone reach in

And if you’re struggling right now, please know this: You don’t have to carry it alone.

Support is available through your union benefit plans, community resources, and organizations like Calltime that understand the unique pressures of film and television work.

Let’s give mental health the moment it deserves today - and keep showing up for it tomorrow.

If you’d like to explore resources, tools, or support options tailored to film and TV workers in BC, visit the resources section of our site CalltimeMentalHealth.com, and also check out the Bell Let’s Talk resources at https://letstalk.bell.ca/tools-and-resources/