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This patch, reading 'Your Mental Health Matters,' will be on eight Red Deer Pond Hockey teams' jerseys starting this season. (Supplied)
your mental health matters

Mental health patches to adorn Red Deer Pond Hockey jerseys

Oct 30, 2022 | 9:00 AM

Red Deer Pond Hockey (RDPH) has bodychecking the stigma around mental health as one of its keys to the 2022-23 season.

In conjunction with Team Alex, a local non-profit, eight RDPH teams will wear a special mental health patch on the backs of their jerseys this season.

MORE: Mental health training starting for central Alberta sports coaches in honour of lost Red Deer man

Around 70 coaches are also to take part in mental health training developed by Team Alex.

John Obelienius, RDPH president, says the league very much wants to be part of the solution when it comes to making hockey a safer space for players and coaches to discuss mental health.

“Red Deer Pond Hockey felt it was important because one, Brian Ennis with Team Alex founded our league. We’ve long asked how we can help spread the Team Alex message even further, and we are happy to be the first organization to run through their training,” says Obelienius.

“With the patch, we wanted it to be in a visible spot, and we hope it can raise awareness through people asking what the patch means. It’s a conversation piece for coaches to ask about when they go into the dressing room, and we hope that carries through the community. We eventually want every team to have the patches on their jerseys.”

Brian Ennis, who founded Team Alex in honour of his son who died by suicide in 2019, is proud to have the league he created be a big driver of stamping out the stigma.

“We really believe this is the time to do this because of where we’re at right now with COVID, people still struggling, and lots of mental health issues and suicides happening,” says Ennis.

“It gets the message across that your mental health matters. We hope other sports leagues see this and see the value of doing it. We want players and coaches to feel more comfortable sharing that they’re having issues or need someone to talk to. This could open doors for conversations.”

The first games with the new patches will take place Nov. 6 at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre at Red Deer Polytechnic.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues and needs help, here is a list of resources in central Alberta:

Canadian Mental Health Association – 403-342-2266

Suicide Information & Education Services – 403-342-4966

Alberta Mental Health Helpline – 1-877-303-2642

Suicide Distress Line for the 403 area code – 1-800-784-2433

Kid’s Help Phone – 1-800-668-6868