The point of the Talk Today awareness games last month – a collaboration between CMHA branches and Ontario Hockey League (OHL) teams – was to get people talking about mental health. And that’s exactly what happened on social media, through traditional media and at rinks across the province.
The hashtag #TalkToday reached 2.8 million unique individuals and garnered eight million impressions on Twitter throughout February.
Teams and branches crafted destigmatizing messages about mental health. Those messages were written on placards and players were then photographed holding the signs. The pictures, as well as others from the various games, were posted on Twitter and Facebook.
Hockey fans also had the opportunity to read about Talk Today in their local newspapers, both in print and online. Talk Today was mentioned in approximately 20 print and online media outlets, reaching 280,000 people.
At the rink, nearly 80,000 fans watched the 20 awareness games.
Those in attendance were able to visit with staff members from CMHA branches at kiosks, which were equipped with information about Talk Today and other programming. Many CMHA staff members also took part in ceremonial faceoffs.
Fans got to experience in-game public address announcements and videos read by OHL players, which promoted positive mental health. Those messages were crafted by CMHA Ontario and CMHA branches.
VIDEO: We want to encourage positive & open discussion about mental health issues. Come #TalkToday outside Sec 112. pic.twitter.com/2dstbQJumD
— Windsor Spitfires (@SpitsHockey) 25 February 2016