Hundreds of people packed the Halifax Metro Centre today to raise awareness about mental illness and to help break a world record.

The event was part of Bell Let’s Talk Day, an initiative encouraging people to join in the conversation about mental health and reduce the stigma with which it is often associated.

“We really have to start talking about it,” says CTV’s Seamus O’Regan, who hosted the event in Hailfax.

“Simply, you’re sick in the same way your body is sick, your mind is as well. You get treatment and you get better.”

Participants were encouraged to grab their cellphones and help break the Guinness World Record for most texts sent at the same time.

Not only did today’s texters break the previous record, they nearly doubled it, sending 1,072 texts at the same time.

But participants say the event was about more than setting world records; it was about raising awareness about mental health issues.

“For me it started slowly with anxiety, which I think is one of the worst feelings in the world,” says Jessica Bower. “It moved to depression pretty quickly.”

Bower spoke openly in front of a large audience about her battle with mental illness at today’s event.

“I don’t know any people who were experiencing what I was experiencing. So you need to know you’re not alone.”

The event may be over, but Bell Let’s Talk Day continues until midnight, and you can join in the conversation.

As part of the campaign, Bell is donating five cents for every long-distance call and text message sent on the Bell network today. The company will also donate five cents for every tweet that includes the hashtag #BellLetsTalk.

Last year, nearly $4 million was raised.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kelland Sundahl