This month, the seven Canadian NHL clubs and their players are bringing a difficult topic to the forefront of the hockey season: awareness and education around mental health and well-being. Hockey Talks, a month-long campaign, will build on the fantastic work started by Mindcheck.ca In British Columbia last year, a mental health support tool was launched following the tragic death of Rick Rypien.
Rypien, who died in August 2011, had endured a difficult battle with mental illness. A favorite of Vancouver fans, he had signed with the Winnipeg Jets only a month before his death. His former NHLPA teammates and peers across Canada are working to continue his legacy through Hockey Talks, in collaboration with a number of mental health organizations across the country.
“Mental health is obviously an issue that is close to my heart. I think people usually go to their friends first and their friends are usually that channel that people who are suffering can express themselves to and they have to take that responsibility in the right way. Most of the time, they don’t want to break their friend’s trust, but it’s very important to let the right people know what’s going on. Everyone must help. – Kevin Bieksa, close friend and former teammate of Rick’s
Led by the Vancouver Canucks and their players, the project will see each Canadian NHL club host a Hockey Talks night during one of their home games in February, encouraging discussions about mental health while removing the associated stigma wrongly attributed to an often devastating disease. Throughout the month, players will also sport Hockey Talks stickers on their helmets while playing in front of the boards at the Hockey Talks rink.
Tomorrow, the start of #HockeyTalks for the month. of February during which the 7 NHL Cnd teams join to raise awareness about mental health. Join the discussion.
– Kévin Bieksa (@kbieksa3) February 1, 2013
The Toronto Maple Leafs produced a video of Canadian team players taking the Hockey Talks pledge. Watch Kevin Bieksa, Josh Gorges, Daniel Alfredson, James Van Riemsdyk and Jordan Eberle commit to speaking out about mental health awareness below.
Hockey Talks will raise awareness of mental health through a variety of means, including in-arena messaging, online storytelling and sharing information and experiences during Hockey Talks game nights. Fans are encouraged to join the conversation by sharing their personal experiences or messages of support via social media with the hashtag #HockeyTalks.
NHLPA members have enthusiastically supported efforts to eliminate the negative stigma surrounding mental illness. Fans are encouraged to visit their respective team websites and, in British Columbia, visit www.Mindcheck.ca for more information about mental health support and treatment.
