Bell empowers creative arts therapies at Concordia
“The arts have a unique capacity to support healing. Bell’s support will empower our ability to work with partners across Montreal and to extend services to people who might not otherwise have access.”
New support from Bell to Concordia will help to advance programs in art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy and play therapy at the Faculty of Fine Arts.
Over a period of two years, the support will strengthen efforts by the Department of Creative Arts Therapies to expand community partnerships across Montreal and deliver services in both English and French. It will provide resources for community-based sites, student supervision and program co-ordination, ensuring that more individuals have access to arts-based approaches to mental health care.
“This will allow our students to provide thousands of hours of pro bono services in the community, while gaining invaluable professional experience,” says assistant professor Heather McLaughlin, MA 04, director of the Concordia Arts in Health Centre, which provides services to the public both on campus and at partner sites. “It’s a meaningful way to connect Concordia’s academic mission with community well-being.”
Cynthia Bruce, chair of the Department of Creative Arts Therapies, adds: “The arts have a unique capacity to support healing. Bell’s support will empower our ability to work with partners across Montreal and to extend services to people who might not otherwise have access.”
The new collaboration builds on Bell’s long history of supporting mental health, including a previous contribution to Concordia in 2021 through Bell Let’s Talk. More than 500 Concordia alumni currently work at Bell, underscoring the close ties between the company and the university community.
The initiative also aligns with Bell’s broader leadership in mental health. On October 10, 2024, World Mental Health Day, the company released A Generation at Risk: The State of Youth Mental Health in Canada in collaboration with Mental Health Research Canada, and announced a $10-million commitment for 2025 to support youth mental health initiatives nationwide.
“Concordia is a leader in creative arts therapies, and we are proud to help broaden access to these important services,” says Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. “This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to mental health, supporting young people and strengthening the communities where we live and work. By working together, we’re making a real difference today and preparing the next generation of therapists to lead tomorrow.”