Chatham Maroons help to launch mental health campaign

One in three Canadians will be affected by a mental illness in their lifetime. On a hockey team, that’s one forward on every line.

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One in three Canadians will be affected by a mental illness in their lifetime. On a hockey team, that’s one forward on every line.
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The Chatham Maroons want people talking about mental health, so they’ve partnered again with public health educators to spread the word.
The Maroons and Chatham-Kent’s mental health table will launch the Face Off for Mental Health education and awareness program at Sunday’s game.
There will be a moment of silence for those impacted by mental health challenges, a pledge wall for guests to write a message supporting those in need and green ribbons symbolizing mental health awareness available at the Chatham Memorial Arena box office.
The Maroons will wear special green jerseys during their pre-game warmup for the 7 p.m. tilt against the St. Thomas Stars. The jerseys will be auctioned to raise money for the program.
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Last season, the Maroons worked with the public health unit to make videos promoting the Be Safe app. The free, mobile app connects people in crisis with local mental health resources.
“The Chatham Jr. Maroons are incredible role models for younger athletes and are helping to lead the charge in breaking the stigma around mental health,” Cathy De Bresser Knowler, mental health table chairperson, said in a statement. “By launching the Face Off for Mental Health program with the Maroons, we hope to inspire meaningful conversations and empower players, families and coaches to recognize the signs of struggle and know where to find help.”
The mental health table is a network of non-profit and health care professionals.
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The Face Off for Mental Health initiative began in 2017 in Lambton County where St. Clair Child and Youth Services works with local hockey groups on mental health awareness.
The statistics on mental health are “staggering,” De Bresser Knowler said, pointing to the Canadian community health survey showing one in three Canadians being affected.
In a 2019 Statistics Canada survey, youths from 12 to 17 years old were asked to rate their mental health as excellent, very good, good, fair or poor; 12 per cent said fair or poor. When the same participants were asked again in 2023, 26 per cent answered fair or poor.
In Ontario, 38 per cent of students in Grades 7 to 12 rated their mental health as fair or poor in a 2023 survey by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. One in five reported harming themselves on purpose in the past year and one in six reported serious thoughts of suicide.
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