Presented by Bell, with the theme “United for Mental Health,” the second Bal des lumières which was held on March 23 of this year at the Bell Centre raised $1,430,000 for the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal Foundation, the Douglas Mental Health University Institute Foundation, and the Mental Illness Foundation.
“It is truly impressive to see so many Québec leaders come together to send a powerful message of support to all those who struggle with mental illness,” said George Cope, President and CEO of BCE and Bell, and honorary chair of the Bal des lumières. “The Bal is a unique and powerful event that raises significant funding for these three world-class Québec mental health foundations, while helping to reduce the stigma around mental illness. Together, we are shining a warm and welcoming light to ensure that mental illness will never again be relegated to the shadows of society.”
With the money raised, the Foundation of the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal will continue to improve the quality of life of its clients with a view to providing them with full citizenship through rehabilitation, encouraging patients to maintain a solid link with their community and thereby stimulating their social reintegration.
As was so well said by the Health Minister Gaétan Barrette, the event’s resounding success illustrates just how much people care about mental health. It is important to continue to rally around this important cause that despite changes in perception, carries stigma and is characterized by numerous taboos even today.
The Foundation would truly like to thank all those people who contributed to the success of the second edition of the Bal des lumières. Yet another step has been taken to help those people who suffer in silence.