Coaches and Leaders Urged to Support Youth Mental Health
THUNDER BAY, ON – The Thunder Bay Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force has officially launched its new youth mental health campaign “An Athlete Needs You – Know what to do. Know what to say.” It encourages coaches and leaders of youth activities to be on the lookout for young people who appear to be troubled, to talk with them and connect 
them to help if necessary.
“Youth in Thunder Bay have told us that life can be stressful at times and that they can be overwhelmed with concerns related to family life, school, friendships, and body image,” says Karen DeGagne, clinician with St. Joseph’s Care Group’s Regional Eating Disorder Program. “The more we educate adults about how to promote youth mental health, the better we can prevent issues from snowballing into more serious problems.”
A recent survey of local coaches indicated that they do encounter players who are not at the top of their game because they may be distracted by difficulties in their personal life. However, some coaches felt unsure of what to say or what to do in that situation, or what community support services are available.
“As a coach, you can tell when something is up with one of your players, but it may be hard to know if it’s your place to get involved,” says Melanie Salatino, former Coach with the Thunder Bay Bantam A Queens. “This campaign encourages coaches and leaders to be about more than the sport. It shows them that they can make a big difference to a young person by simply being a helpful adult to talk to. We may not have all of the answers but we can start a conversation and connect the youth to community services if needed.”
The campaign is financially supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the government of Ontario. It involves a dynamic new video featuring local athletes and coaches, as well as posters and information cards which highlight the signs to watch for, tips on what to say, what to do to support a young person and what community services are available. All of the helpful resources can be found at HeresTheDeal.ca.
The Task Force is a unique community collaborative that was formed in 2007. It consists of over 25 community partners that work together by sharing resources and expertise to combat the tragic issue of youth suicide. The Task Force is involved with a number of community initiatives, including community presentations, skill building workshops and awareness campaigns.
