Hounds make mental health focus of upcoming game

NEWS RELEASE

SOO GREYHOUNDS/CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION

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The Soo Greyhounds  and Canadian Mental Health Association, Sault Ste. Marie are teaming up to raise awareness about the importance of mental health during an upcoming Hounds home game.

The game on Saturday, March 14 at the Essar Centre Talk Today event will feature:

• Promo video done with players
• Information Table
• Giveaways for fans

The awareness campaign is part of the ongoing commitment by the Soo Greyhounds and Canadian Mental Health Association, Sault Ste. Marie Branch to implement Talk Today.

Announced last fall, Talk Today is a partnership between the Ontario Hockey League and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

It provides mental health support to players and raises awareness about mental health and suicide throughout OHL communities.

A key piece of the Talk Today program has been to educate players about mental health and suicide.

To date, players on all 20 OHL teams have received mental health training specific to suicide awareness.

Each team is also now linked to a CMHA Mental Health Coach, who can provide support and mental health resources to individuals in need.

“We are excited about the partnership with the Greyhounds Organization. They are committed to educating not only their players, but staff and billets as well. We trained a total of 64 people in safeTALK (Suicide alertness training)."

“Although the OHL players face unique challenges, it’s important to remember that many young people are also under a tremendous amount of stress and pressure to succeed, which increases their risk to mental health issues. I am pleased to be a part of the Greyhounds organization; a hockey club that puts mental health at top priority," said Lisa Carricato, Mental Health Educator CMHA and Mental Health Coach Soo Greyhounds.

“I salute the Soo Greyhound Hockey Club for leadership and understanding the importance of good mental health for their players and staff. Part of our message to the players is that we are here to help and support each other, and to do that, we have to foster an environment that promotes open communication about mental health issues.”

“The benefit of an event like this is that it can help reduce stigma. For example, when young fans see the Soo Greyhound organization and players, discussing the importance of talking about issues such as depression or suicide, it can help them realize that mental health is something that is ok and in fact healthy to talk about. It can help them realize that if they or a friend or family member need help, that there’s help out there,” said Zoltan Kovacs, Player Liaison, Soo Greyhound Hockey Club.

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