REGINA, SK – The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, a key player in the Canadian sports community, is proud to announce its continued support for and participation in the Canadian Mental Health Association’s ‘Talk Today’ program ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
Talk Today is a mental health and suicide awareness resource and support developed by the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Canadian Junior Hockey League for young athletes.
“Partnering with CMHA and the CJHL, the SJHL welcomes the development of mental health training, mental health tools and positive, supportive relationships to help our athletes be successful both on and off the ice,” said SJHL commissioner Kyle McIntyre.
“Athletes can take control of their mental health in several ways, and setting up a support system, aiming for achievable goals, and identifying ways to cope all can help. To achieve peak performance and mental wellness, elite athletes and other competitors must be aware of their doubts and fear of failure. They can overcome mental health challenges through self-awareness strategies and discussing mental health issues with a sympathetic coach or a mental health professional.
“Thank you to the NHL, CJHL, Fifth Line and the CMHA for their interest in the SJHL and its players.”
Each club in the league is expected to participate by partnering with the CMHA, CJHL, and the league to provide the three pillars of ‘Education,’ ‘Support,’ and ‘Awareness’ to every player involved.
In addition to the core components of Talk Today outlined above, CMHA is currently working on a ‘resources hub’ that will be housed on www.talktoday.ca and contain more information on several mental health topics for teams and athletes to review when needed. This should be available by the end of September.
Additionally, February will be observed league-wide as ‘Talk Today’ month to raise local awareness of the Talk Today partnership, local CMHA resources, and mental health generally.
