McSweeney’s WHL Community Collective: Vancouver Giants

White Rock, B.C.- The Vancouver Giants may have each others’ backs on the ice, but they know that when it comes to mental health, everyone is on the same team.

That message was top of mind as players visited classrooms throughout the lower mainland this season- including students in Grades 6 and 7 at White Rock’s Ecole Peace Arch.

Through the ‘Be a Giant’ program and a partnership with local RCMP, players were able to share their experiences alongside community outreach officers.

“There are stories of how we kind of grew up and mental health struggles with playing in sports- and always being open to talking to somebody and having a support system,” Giants forward Matthew Edwards explained.

White Rock RCMP’s Community Response Constable Chantal Sears says these conversations are more important than ever.

Throughout my policing career, I have seen mental health-related calls increase substantially,” Cst. Sears told the RCMP Newsroom. “I hope that by engaging students with this topic, they will have the skills and know the resources available to seek help if they (or a friend or loved one) are struggling with anxiety, depression or any other mental health issue.

For younger children, sports are also a relatable way to open conversations about stress and anxiety.

Edwards and now-graduated defenceman Wyatt Wilson joined Cst. Sears for a class presentation in November in addition to multiple other classroom visits.

“All players, I would say, have experienced some sort of challenge in their life, whether it’s getting cut from a team or going through some sort of adversity,” Edwards added. “Being able to share that with younger kids is so when that time comes for them, they’re more ready to take that on. I hope they can learn that everybody is going to have challenges in their life, and whether you’re the top player on your team or you’re not playing sports at all, we’re all going to go through different challenges and have different outcomes. So it’s important to be pushing forward.”

In January, two-time WHL Champion and Vancouver Canucks goaltender Corey Hirsch also met with students to share his journey with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Hirsch, who captured a Memorial Cup with the Kamloops Blazers in 1992, has become one of hockey’s strongest mental health advocates through in-person presentations, his book, ‘The Save of My Life: My Journey Out of the Dark’ and his podcast, ‘Blindsided’, which features conversations with athletes and medical experts about mental health.

Throughout the school year, Cst. Sears says the growth she’s seen from students has been impressive- and Edwards says the lessons are also important for the Giants to keep top of mind.

“We learned that it was okay to not be okay, to use your voice when you need help and ask for help,” Edwards added. “Have a good support system, have somebody to talk to and make you’re always being open.”