Talk Today resources hub

Welcome to the Talk Today resources hub. On this page, you’ll find a variety of mental health awareness and suicide prevention information to support you or someone you know with a mental health concern. This space is intended for athletes and team personnel to learn more about mental health challenges passively and at your own pace. Information on this page is updated regularly.

If you’d like more information, or you’d like to be connected directly with your organization’s CMHA mental health coach, please contact*:

Alex Salomie
Program lead
asalomie@ontario.cmha.ca

*Note: Email is not monitored 24-7. If you’re in crisis, please call the national suicide crisis helpline 9-8-8 (available in Canada and the U.S.) or visit your local emergency department.

CHL hub only: embed intro video from Dan Mackenzie once available

Infosheets

Transitions

How to cope with grief and loss related to transitions, such as joining or leaving a team, being traded or released, starting or ending your junior hockey journey, etc.

Gambling

How to identify signs of problematic gambling in oneself or others, tips for responsible gambling, considerations for gambling within a sports context, and available resources

Substance use

How to identify signs of a substance use disorder in oneself or others, what to do if you or someone you know is experiencing problematic substance use, and available resources

Depression

Defines depression, outlines signs and symptoms to notice in yourself or others, and tips for managing low mood or mild-to-moderate depression

Stress and Anxiety

Defines anxiety, outlines signs and symptoms to notice in yourself or others, and tips for managing mild-to-moderate anxiety

Burnout

How to notice when you or someone you know may be experiencing burnout, how to seek or offer support, and tips to manage wellness

Distress and suicide

General information on how to recognize when someone you know may be in distress or experiencing thoughts of suicide, and basic tips on how to get help for someone you know (Note: for informational purposes only – not a substitute for formal training on suicide prevention or intervention)

Social media use

Seven ways to use social media to benefit your mental health

National resources

Canada

9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline (call or text for immediate crisis support)
Kids Help Phone (youth mental health support; call 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868)
211 (hub of community-based, non-clinical health and social services by province)
Canadian Mental Health Association (national map to find CMHA in your area)
BounceBack (Free CMHA counselling service for low mood and mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety)

U.S.

988 Lifeline (call or text for immediate crisis support)
Mental Health America (information on services across the U.S.)
Warmline.org (Directory of phone lines for mental health peer specialists)

To be connected with your CMHA mental health coach in non-emergency situations, email program lead Alex Salomie (asalomie@ontario.cmha.ca).

Talk Today podcast

The Talk Today podcast aims to spread mental health awareness in sports through conversations with athletes and others in the sports community who are passionate about mental health. Like and subscribe on your favourite podcast app or listen below.

If you have an idea for a future podcast topic or guest, email talktoday@ontario.cmha.ca.

Talk Today is one of the most comprehensive mental health programs for amateur sports in Canada. Launched by Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario in partnership with the Ontario Hockey League in 2014, Talk Today promotes the mental health of young athletes and spreads awareness of mental health throughout communities nationwide. Learn more at www.talktoday.ca.

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