Media Release: Mississauga Steelheads and CMHA Peel Make Mental Health the Goal on Family Day!

Brampton, Ontario – The Mississauga Steelheads Hockey Club and the Canadian Mental Health Association – Peel Branch (CMHA Peel) are teaming up to raise awareness about the importance of mental health during the Steelheads Family Day Game, February 16, 2015. This initiative is part of Talk Today, a joint CMHA and Ontario Hockey League project that aims to promote the mental health of young athletes and raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention.

This highly-anticipated game on Monday, February 16^th at 2 pm at the Hershey Centre sees the Steelheads facing off against the Erie Otters. This Talk Today event aims to combat stigma by starting a conversation around mental health and encouraging young people to seek help when they need it. CMHA Peel volunteers will be on hand to provide information to Steelhead fans, and CMHA information videos will be featured before the game and during intermissions.

Update – This event is sold out!  Thank you for your support! Proceeds from these ticket sales will benefit CMHA Peel’s Youth Net program which generates mental health awareness, promotes resiliency and connects youth to information and services through workshops and presentations by-youth, for-youth.

“The Steelheads are honoured to partner with the CMHA” says James Boyd, Steelheads Head Coach and General Manager. “The training that our staff and players have received are invaluable life skills and the Canadian Mental Health Association Peel office has been a great resource of information and support. We are glad to play our part in eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health issues in our community.”

“Members of the Mississauga Steelheads play leadership roles within the community and players, particularly, are seen as excellent role models who positively influence young hockey fans and their families,” says David Smith CEO of CMHA Peel. “This partnership with the Steelheads presents an excellent opportunity to increase public awareness and to promote mental health throughout the region.”

This event is part of the ongoing commitment by the Mississauga Steelheads and Canadian Mental Health Association Peel to the Talk Today initiative. A key piece of the Talk Today program has been to educate players and coaches about mental health and suicide. To date, players on all 20 OHL teams have received mental health training specific to suicide awareness. Each team is also now linked to a CMHA Mental Health Coach, who can provide support and mental health resources to individuals in need.

Tickets for the game are available online – visit peel.cmha.ca. Each $13 CMHA ticket includes a pre-game skate for all ages.  Helmets are required for anyone participating in the pre-game skate.