1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental or emotional health issue each year.
Student athletes are at a higher risk for concern due to the added pressures of being both a student and an athlete.
1 - 3 Athletes on each Lakers Athletics team this year will likely experience a mental health issue, according to statistics.
REAL TALK is an initiative developed by Nipissing University’s Student Counselling Services in partnership with Lakers athletics.
Our Goal: To better integrate mental health and wellness initiatives into the lives of athletes by creating relationships between athletes and mental health support professionals.
safeTALK:
All Lakers athletes will receive the safeTALK suicide prevention and awareness training.
Through this training athletes will learn to:
Point Person: Each Nipissing Lakers Varsity team will have a designated athlete as the REAL TALK point person for their team. This point person will be identified to their teammates who are encouraged to connect with them if they are struggling and need to discuss and connect available supports.
Coaches: All coaches will complete a comprehensive 2 day Mental Health First Aid - Adults who Interact with Youth Training. This prepares individuals to provide initial support to someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis or developing mental health concerns.
By developing relationships we hope to encourage a REAL and safe space that allows for deeper life conversations amongst athletes, coaches and trainers, and Student Counselling Services.
Nipissing University sits on the territory of Nipissing First Nation, the territory of the Anishnabek, within lands protected by the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850.
We are grateful to be able to live and learn on these lands with all our relations.
