One in five children and youth
will experience a mental health problem.
That’s equivalent to one player on each line on every hockey team.
St. Clair Child & Youth Services, Lead Agency for Children’s Mental Health in Lambton County is pleased to partner with local hockey associations to raise the profile of mental health issues for children and youth. Current partners include: Point Edward Minor Hockey Association, Sarnia Hockey Association, Sarnia Girls Hockey Lambton Sting Jr. AAA Hockey Club, Petrolia Minor Hockey Association, Lambton Attack Girls Hockey, Mooretown Minor Hockey Association, Lambton Shores Minor Hockey Association, East Lambton Minor Hockey Association, and the Sarnia Legionnaires, Mooretown Flags, Sarnia Sting Junior A Hockey Club.
The concept of bringing together hockey and the local children’s mental health agency all started because of a coach seeking information about mental health to better support the players on his team. The response to this initiative has been overwhelming. The hockey community has jumped on board and joined us in growing Face Off For Mental Health each year.
St. Clair Child and Youth Services has been offering mental health education sessions to bench staff, highlighting signs and symptoms of mental health issues as well as sharing information about local resources. Thus far, we have been relying upon donations from individuals and Hockey Associations to fund our awareness efforts however, our goal is to make this program sustainable. Any inquiries around corporate sponsorship would be welcomed!
Throughout the month of November local hockey associations are holding mental health awareness weekends in their home arenas, where mental health information will be available for players, coaches, and parents. Players participate in contests around positive messaging, Coaches deliver dressing room chats around mental wellness and home teams show their support with their sticks taped green demonstrating their support for mental health and sending a message that the rink is a safe place to talk.
The Sarnia Sting will be hosting a Mental Health Awareness game on November 17th when they face the Ottawa 67’s. Special ticket pricing is available, we are hoping to pack the PASA!. Details about the game can be found Here: www.stclairchild.ca