SAULT STE. MARIE -- The annual ‘Talk Today’ Ontario Hockey League game takes place Feb.12 in Sault Ste. Marie.
For six years, the Canadian Mental Health Association and the OHL have teamed up to promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention training for its players, coaches and families.
OHL commissioner David Branch says the league has been a proud partner of CMHA Ontario.
“It’s important for our league and our teams to lead mental health conversations in our communities and dressing rooms as a way to reduce stigma and encourage individuals to find support when they need it.”
Leading up to the game, players head out and speak to students about the importance of mental health.
“We also take three or four players into one of the schools locally. They get right down and dirty with the kids and they talk about stress, they talk about mental health, how important it is to be healthy to look after oneself and the kids just lap it up” said Annette Katajamaki, the Executive Director of the Sault’s Canadian Mental Health branch.
She adds that this day was created as a result of an OHL player who took his own life in 2014.
The Greyhounds take on the Saginaw Spirit during the ‘Talk Today’ game. Puck drops at 7:07 p.m.
