Queen's University

A to Z

Initiative Campaign

Bell Canada Mental Health and Anti-Stigma Research Chair

[Bell Canada]

The distinguished panel involved in the research chair announcement included:
Richard Reznick, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences; Principal Daniel Woolf;
Mary Deacon, chair of the Bell "Let’s Talk" mental health initiative;
Dr. Heather Stuart; and Thomas O’Neill, chair of the board, BCE.

Changing the way people think about mental health

Through the Initiative Campaign and as part of their Let’s Talk program, Bell donated $1 million to create the world-first chair in anti-stigma research – the Bell Canada Mental Health and Anti-Stigma Research Chair. Announced in February 2012, Dr. Heather Stuart, Professor of Community Health and Epidemiology, was named the chair holder.

Through her work to assess and advance outreach programs, Dr. Stuart hopes to change how people think about mental health. Bell’s donation will allow her to focus on her research in developing and disseminating best practices to reduce stigma, hire research assistants, and bring in experts to speak at conferences, among other activities.

Dr. Stuart says of Bell’s decision to fund the chair: “Bell Canada are true heroes who have stood up for mental illness. It is very hard to get funding for this type of research and Bell is prepared to put their money to work and I am extremely grateful to them.“