In recognition of February as Talk Today month across the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), several OHL clubs are posting their mental health tips on social media.
Under normal circumstances, all OHL clubs host a mental health awareness game in February in partnership with their local Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) branch. Due to the pandemic, efforts to talk about mental health in the community have shifted online this year.
Examples of teams using their platform to discuss mental health this February include:
Launched in partnership between the OHL and CMHA Ontario in 2014, Talk Today includes mental health awareness and suicide prevention training for athletes, direct connections to mental health supports when necessary, and game days in each community intended to reduce stigma. The program has grown to include more than 50 CMHAs across Canada supporting junior hockey teams, post-secondary sports programs, minor sports organizations, and more.
Check out more Talk Today videos by OHL teams by searching #TalkToday on Twitter. For more information about the program, visit www.talktoday.ca.