OHL Celebrates 10th Season of CMHA Talk Today Program
Published on October 10, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL) News Release
Toronto, Ont. - The 2023-24 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) season is well underway, one in which the League is celebrating a special milestone in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
The OHL and CMHA collaborated to create the Talk Today program at the outset of the 2014 season. It has developed into one of the most comprehensive mental health awareness and suicide prevention programs for amateur sports in Canada. Talk Today promotes the mental health of young athletes and spreads awareness about the benefits of positive mental health throughout communities across the country.
In addition to participating in mental health and suicide awareness workshops, OHL teams are connected to a designated CMHA Mental Health Coach, connecting them with helpful resources and support. OHL member teams also host Talk Today game days during the month of February with related social media coverage to raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with mental health and addiction issues.
"As a founding partner of Talk Today, it's incredible to see the program reach its 10th season in junior hockey, and inspiring to see its growth across the country," said OHL Commissioner David Branch. "Congratulations to CMHA Ontario and the local branches across Canada that support this initiative. The OHL is very thankful for our partnership and how it has benefitted players, staff and the entire OHL community since its inception. It's important to extend thanks and appreciation to our players, who have embraced this program and, as a result, served as a valuable resource to others in the area of mental health awareness."
"Talk Today wouldn't be where it is today without the leadership and support of the OHL," said CMHA Ontario CEO Camille Quenneville. "We're proud to see how the program has evolved over the past 10 seasons, we're thankful for all our partners across Canadian junior hockey, and we're honoured to continue working with teams and leagues across the country. The OHL and their teams have been essential to Talk Today's success and we cannot express enough how much we appreciate their continued support for the program."
Since 2014, nearly 8,600 individuals across Canada, including 2,194 members of the OHL community, have received mental health and suicide awareness training through the program. The vast majority of individuals trained are athletes (7,598), but coaches (381), staff (217), billets and parents (400) have also participated in training, helping to create cultures of openness within athlete support networks.
For more information about Talk Today, visit www.talktoday.ca and subscribe to the new Talk Today podcast on your preferred podcast app. The latest episode features OHL Commissioner David Branch.
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