Talk Today Program in WHL
Centre for Suicide Prevention would like to congratulate the Western Hockey League (WHL) on becoming suicide prevention champions with the Talk Today program, an initiative of Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Ontario, and now CMHA BC and Alberta.
The Talk Today program trains every WHL player and some team staff members such as coaches in suicide prevention using either the safeTALK: suicide alertness workshop or the ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training workshop.
We are pleased to be the organizer and provider of each of these workshops for all of the teams in the WHL!
This kind of training is vital to the mental health of everyone involved in the teams being trained, as well as to the community as a whole. The more people we can train in suicide prevention, the more people will be alert to those at risk, can intervene, and save lives.
If you’re interested in receiving suicide prevention training, contact us!
Here’s an outline of the Talk Today program, as outlined on the CMHA Ontario website:
Mental Health Training for Players and Support Staff
All participants receive training in safeTALK, an accredited program that teaches individuals to recognize persons with thoughts of suicide and how to take action. Coaches, team staff and parents who provide support to the players can also receive safeTALK, as well as ASIST, a training which teaches people how to recognize individuals who are at risk and intervene to prevent suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
Mental Health Coach
Each team has a designated CMHA Mental Health Coach to provide resources and supports for the players as well as the people that surround them.
Mental Health Champion
Each team has a local Mental Health Champion, who acts as an advocate on mental health issues within the community and helps players connect with their local CMHA Mental Health Coach.
Talk Today Community Events
Each team hosts a Talk Today community event at one home game to show its support for mental health and raise awareness about CMHA mental health programs in the community.