Regina Pats To Host Mental Health Awareness Game In Partnership With CMHA Regina
Regina, Sask. — The Regina Pats have partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Regina Branch for a mental health awareness game February 4 at 4pm when the Pats host the Red Deer Rebels.
The game day experience will focus on several features to promote the importance of mental health, including:
- A CMHA Regina-run kiosk on the concourse where fans can learn more about mental health and the organization’s community-based services.
- A ceremonial puck drop.
- Videos featuring Regina Pats players talking about the importance of mental health.
- Public service announcements about mental health and CMHA Regina.
- Mental health signs for fans to write on and show in unison at a designated stoppage in play.
- A CMHA Regina fundraising component
This mental health awareness game is part of the Regina Pats ongoing partnership with CMHA Regina and its Talk Today program.
This season, Talk Today is celebrating a major milestone – its 10th season of supporting junior hockey. Since its launch in 2014, Talk Today has provided an important platform to address the mental health needs of hockey players and other athletes across Canada. From 2014 through the 2022-23 season, nearly 8,600 individuals 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 a culture of openness and awareness within athlete support networks.
The key piece of the Talk Today program has been to educate players about mental health and suicide prevention. Each team is also linked to a CMHA mental health coach who provides support and mental health resources to individuals in need.
“The Regina Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA Regina) is extremely thrilled to once again partner with the Regina Pats in hosting this Talk Today event to increase public awareness and promote mental health within our community,” said Shannon Patton, Acting Executive Director & Director of Community Engagement for CMHA Regina Branch. “Talk Today is designed to educate athletes about suicide prevention and mental health.”
“The Talk Today program has provided suicide awareness training to over 9,500 athletes, team personnel and billet families across the Canadian Hockey League and Canadian Junior Hockey League,” continued Patton. “We’re very proud of our relationship with the Regina Pats and we look forward to a great game on Sunday.”
“We are extremely proud of our partnership with the CMHA Regina Branch and the important mental health training and awareness programing provided to our players, staff and billets,” said Regina Pats CEO Gord Pritchard. “The programing, education, training and awareness that Shannon and her team provide to our organization is vital and something that is particularly important for our players. Through CMHA training and awareness, our players are learning important tools to not only manage their mental health and learn of the resources of available, but also when to ask for help and how. We are very grateful for the work that CHMHA is doing in Regina and across Canada.”
Tickets for the game are still available. For ticket information, head to https://chl.ca/whl-pats/tickets/
For more information on the Talk Today program, visit www.talktoday.ca.
