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February 24, 2022
In 2022, 3 in 5 Canadian children and youth accessed mental health and substance abuse services. Among all young Canadians who accessed mental health services during the past six months, more than half said that they were not easy to access. Data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) suggests that people are waiting weeks, if not months, to access mental health counseling in their communities.
In response, the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) has launched a Mental Health and Sport Resource Hub to equip and empower coaches at all levels of sport to better serve youth in all provinces and territories and advance national mental health literacy.
“We know the positive impact that physical activity, along with the sense of belonging, can have on participants’ mental health. We also know the unique position that coaches can play as a source of support and guidance for those who need it, especially in remote communities where resources and services may be limited,” said Lorraine Lafrenière, CEO of CAC.
Powered through partnerships with over 500 sport organizations at all levels across Canada, the program provides coaches with knowledge and skills that promote positivity. The Mental Health and Sport Resource Hub seeks to improve performance and overall well-being in sport by offering training and resources to coaches who are well-positioned to help young people. “Their influence, observation and personal connection in working with sport participants place the, in a critical role to support those experiencing low mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated the Association.
The Hub intends to bridge the knowledge and confidence gap that many coaches experience when dealing with mental health and self-care. To do this, CAC is providing free, easily accessible resources that include information, training modules, research, data and activities designed to increase mental health literacy and positive coaching practices that can help coaches overcome stigma and guide conversations about well-being. The online portal is part of a larger project funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to reach communities across Canada, including those in remote areas and Indigenous peoples.
“For a lot of coaches like myself in a rural area, it’s hard to access resources, especially for mental health,” said Rhys McAlpine, Skating Coach representing Saskatchewan for the Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program. “Having a hub like this where you can go online, find any kind of information that you’re needing, whether it’s something you have experience with or you don’t have experience with, it’s really good for coaches.
As part of this initiative, the CAC has updated and expanded on mental health content in existing NCCP (National Coaching Certification Program) and modules and will be offering its “Mental Health in Sport eLearning” in an additional seven languages: Arabic, Punjabi, Chinese, Tagalog, Cree, Inuktitut and Dene. The Asssociation is also training NCCP facilitators across the country to deliver the updated modules in their communities.
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