Teachers Life becomes the Presenting Sponsor of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Talk Today Program as part of multi-year OHL partnership
The Ontario Hockey League in association with Teachers Life proudly announce the launch of a two-year partnership as Teachers Life becomes the Presenting Sponsor of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Talk Today Program in 16 OHL communities.
Talk Today is one of the most comprehensive mental health programs for amateur sports in Canada. It aims to promote the mental health of young athletes and to spread awareness about the benefits of positive mental health throughout communities across the country.
“Mental illness directly or indirectly affects everyone at some point in their life,” said David Branch, OHL Commissioner. “Our partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association for the Talk Today program has further enhanced the playing environment for our student athletes. With the support of Teachers Life we look forward to building this program and continuing to make a positive difference in OHL communities.”
Originally launched by the OHL in partnership with CMHA Ontario in 2014, Talk Today has made a sizable impact with over 725 players, 204 billets, and more than 85 coaches and front office staff receiving mental health and suicide prevention training to date. The partnership has since expanded between the Canadian Hockey League and CMHA to include all 60 CHL teams beginning this season.
“CMHA Ontario is extremely grateful to Teachers Life for its generosity and backing of Talk Today, an important program that is providing help to OHL players and teams while helping to eliminate stigma and discrimination too often associated with mental health,” said Camille Quenneville, CEO, CMHA Ontario. “The Teachers Life commitment will help us provide mental health and suicide prevention training for individuals in OHL communities who, in turn, help the CMHA spread positive messages of mental health throughout Ontario.”
As part of its partnership, Teachers Life will help the OHL and CMHA Ontario branches raise awareness about the importance of mental health during upcoming OHL games beginning Friday January 13 in London when the Knights host the Saginaw Spirit. Talk Today awareness nights presented by Teachers Life will continue league wide in February with a full schedule to be announced in the coming weeks.
“Teachers Life recognizes the challenges that mental health issues can bring to students, families, and those who work in education,” said Doug Baker, President and CEO of Teachers Life Insurance. “We are proud to be a part of the OHL’s Talk Today program to help raise awareness of the benefits of positive mental health. We know that by destigmatizing mental health issues, lives and communities are greatly improved.”
Teachers Life sponsored OHL teams include the Barrie Colts, Guelph Storm, Kingston Frontenacs, Kitchener Rangers, London Knights, Mississauga Steelheads, Niagara IceDogs, North Bay Battalion, Oshawa Generals, Ottawa 67’s, Owen Sound Attack, Peterborough Petes, Sarnia Sting, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Sudbury Wolves, and Windsor Spitfires.
About Teachers Life:
Teachers Life is a not-for-profit federally regulated life-insurance company and North America’s largest educator-owned fraternal insurer. Founded in 1939, Teachers Life offers a full suite of personal insurance products to address the unique needs of the whole education community including educators, administrators, support staff and their families. Teachers Life is the first insurance provider in Canada to underwrite life insurance products online, in as little as 15 minutes. As a not-for-profit fraternal insurer, community commitment is a core value for Teachers Life. For more information, please visit www.teacherslife.com.
About the Canadian Mental Health Association:
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) works toward a single mission: to make mental health possible for all. The vision of CMHA Ontario is a society that believes mental health is the key to well-being. CMHA Ontario works closely with 31 local branches in communities across the province to ensure the quality delivery of services in the areas of mental health, addictions, dual diagnosis and concurrent disorders. Through policy formulation, analysis and implementation, agenda setting, research, evaluation and knowledge exchange, we work to improve the lives of people with mental health and addictions conditions and their families. Visit www.ontario.cmha.ca to find a CMHA branch in your community
About the Ontario Hockey League:
The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. Last season, more than nine million fans attended CHL games in the regular season, playoffs and at the Mastercard Memorial Cup. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U Sports than any other league. For more information visit www.ontariohockeyleague.com.