Youth hockey associations from around Sarnia-Lambton are teaming up to fight mental illness.
Face Off for Mental Health, a campaign started last year by St. Clair Child & Youth Services, is hoping to make local rinks a safer and more open place to talk about issues facing youth.
Director of Operations Craig McKenzie said mental illness impacts one in every five kids, the equivalent to one player on each line of a hockey team.
"We know that in hockey there's a lot of pressure on kids, particularly in Canada, to be successful at sports, and for us the message is clear, it's to do your best and to make arenas a safe place where it's ok to talk," he said. "Talk about your feelings, talk about your problems, and to reach out to the supports that are already around you."
Face Off for Mental Health (submitted photo)
St. Clair will be offering mental health education sessions to coaches, sharing information about community resources, and holding mental health awareness weekends in various arenas during the month of November.
McKenzie said teams taking part in the initiative are taping their sticks green to send a message that it's ok to talk about how you're feeling.
He said St. Clair will be expanding the campaign to other youth sports in the area, such as lacrosse, gymnastics and figure skating.