January 14, 2015
Bell Let’s Talk, we need to talk. Right now.
I put up with your slimy PR bullshit that you unapologetically ooze in the name of mental health awareness because I believed it… Fuck. I actually bought it. You told me you “make a difference” and I swallowed it like a fistful of lithium.
I’ve never felt more like a chump.
Today I walked past one of your billboards:
Let's turn :( into :)
You implausible piece of shit, who the fuck do you think you are? Are you really going to turn our emotions into emojis? Please stop trying to make excuses — it’s not cute, it’s insulting and diminishing. And it’s a fucking weak shot at being relevant to youth culture. The only thing less relevant than this campaign is Howie Mandel.
Even if it weren’t so goddamn offensive, your one-day media stunt isn’t going change a single thing or stop our friends and family from killing themselves en masse.
I’m writing this to say goodbye. We’re done. Don’t text me, don’t call me… just send me my monthly billing cycle and FUCK OFF.
-Tendayi
—
January 27, 2016
I had to see you everywhere today.
I felt like I couldn’t avoid you. I almost started to miss you. Miss us, you know?
Bell Let’s Talk, I want to say I’m sorry for how I blew up at you before. I wasn’t myself. But you should know better than anyone that I don’t always have the best handle on my emotions.
That rang true today when a doe-eyed first-year Sauder kid offered me a “Let’s Talk” button. I told him I’d start by using it to poke holes in your bullshit initiative and finish by stabbing myself in the cornea until I lost sight. I was escorted off campus. Maybe I’d already lost sight.
But honestly, why are you sending street teams full of kids out to talk to people about major mental health problems and, in some cases (like the button one), talking directly to someone with a major mental health problem? Aren’t these the same fuckheads who were trying to push a Galaxy S7 on me last month?
Don’t chuff me off you scumbag, you know it’s true.
Fuck. I promised myself I wouldn’t get upset, but your smug face deserves a cracked screen.
Forget it. This is never going to work. I truly hope I don’t see you next year or anymore.
Have a good life — or fiscal year, or whatever.
-Tendayi
—
March 29, 2016.
I’ve had some time to think.
I don’t even know why I’m writing this right now. I have no idea what to say. I should probably start with an apology.
I’m sorry Bell, Lets Talk. I truly am. I was very upset and said a lot of things out of anger.
I’m not angry anymore.
There are a few reasons why I no longer feel angry. I got some help recently, Bell Let’s Talk, some real honest-to-goodness help. I checked into a hospital and spent some time working on trying to get myself better.
Nah, you’re right. It wasn’t easy. But it set me up with a team to find and mitigate the areas of my life I’m losing control of.
My psychiatrist asked why I hated you so many times that I had to admit that I didn’t. Truthfully, I still kind of love you. At least you’re trying to do something. Media stunt or not, you’re telling people to not let sleeping dogs lie and I truly appreciate that.
The truth is that I have some real problems with the way we deal with mental health concerns in this country and maybe one day you and I can talk about it.
But for now, let’s just be friends, okay? I’m down to talk any time.
Be well,
-Tendayi
Share this article
