Supplied by the Soo Greyhounds…
Sault Ste. Marie, February 12, 2020 – The Soo Greyhounds have partnered with Canadian Mental Health Association, Sault Ste. Marie for a mental health awareness game February 12, 2020 @ 7:07pm, presented by Teachers Life, when the Soo Greyhounds take on the Saginaw Spirit at the GFL Memorial Gardens.
The game day experience will have several features to promote the importance of mental health, including:
” A CMHA-run kiosk on the concourse where fans can learn more about mental health and the organization’s community-based services
” A ceremonial puck drop and photo opportunity with CMHA Sault Ste. Marie
” Videos featuring Soo Greyhounds players talking about the importance of mental health
” Public service announcements about mental health and CMHA Sault Ste. Marie
” Mental health signs for fans to write on and show in unison at a designated stoppage in play

This mental health awareness game is part of the Soo Greyhounds ongoing partnership with CMHA Sault Ste. Marie and its Talk Today program, presented by Teachers Life. Originally launched by CMHA Ontario in partnership with the Ontario Hockey League in 2014, Talk Today provides an important opportunity to address the mental health needs of athletes across Canada. Through this program, over 1,100 OHL players and over 400 coaches, billets and staff have received mental health and suicide prevention training across the league.

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. Additionally, CMHA experts work with players from the Soo Greyhounds to deliver a basic in-class presentation about mental wellness to elementary school students.

“We’re extremely grateful to partner with the Soo Greyhounds to host a Talk Today event to increase public awareness and to promote mental health in this community”. said Lisa Carricato, Mental Health Educator with CMHA Sault Ste. Marie.

“By hosting this event, the Soo Greyhounds are helping eliminate the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health issues and encouraging discussion within the community about mental health.” said Jeff McClelland, Manager of Corporate Partnerships with the Soo Greyhounds.
Great seats are still available at the GFL Memorial Gardens Box Office, presented by SK Group Inc., online at www.gflgardens.ca or by phone at 1.866.775.9422.

About Teachers Life:
Teachers Life is a not-for-profit federally regulated life-insurance company and North America’s largest educator-owned fraternal insurer. Founded in 1939, Teachers Life offers a full suite of personal insurance products to address the unique needs of the whole education community including educators, administrators, support staff and their families. Teachers Life is the first insurance provider in Canada to underwrite life insurance products online, in as little as 15 minutes. As a not-for-profit fraternal insurer, community commitment is a core value for Teachers Life. For more information, please visit www.teacherslife.com.
About Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario:
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario is a not-for-profit, charitable organization funded by the provincial Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. We work to improve the lives of all Ontarians through
leadership, collaboration and continual pursuit of excellence in community-based mental health and addictions services. Our vision is a society that embraces and invests in the mental health of all people. We are a trusted advisor to government, contributing to health systems development through policy formulation and recommendations that promote positive mental health. Our 30 local CMHA branches, together with community-based mental health and addictions service providers across the province, serve approximately 500,000 Ontarians each year.
About the Ontario Hockey League:
The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. Last season, more than nine million fans attended CHL games in the regular season, playoffs and at the Mastercard Memorial Cup. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U Sports than any other league. For more information, visit www. ontariohockeyleague.com.