“It’s okay not to be okay”.
This episode on the topic of Mental Health Literacy is an educational discussion for coaches and student-athletes. Krista Van Slingerland is our guest and she educates us on an important topic in today’s society and sporting landscape – Mental Health Literacy In Sports.
Krista is the co-founder, and recently named executive director, of the CANADIAN CENTRE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SPORT. Based in Ottawa, the CCMHS is a not-for-profit organization supporting the mental health and performance of competitive and high-performance athletes and coaches. It is the first centre in North America to offer collaborative sport-focused mental health care services designed to help athletes and coaches achieve their performance goals while preserving their mental health and well-being.
Krista has turned her own struggle with a mental health disorder into a career focused on working with athletes, coaches, parents and administrators to make Canadian sport a safer and more inclusive place for athletes struggling with mental illness. You should also know that Krista has learned a lot about the coach-athlete relationship through her experience as a standout collegiate basketball player at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. She is also a researcher in the field of applied sport psychology.
Krista is a good follow on Twitter (@KVanSlingerland) and she can be reached at the website: ccmhs-ccsms.ca. Here you can learn about their team of distinguished experts and find some practical tools to assist you.
Below are some resources recommended by Krista:
Crisis Resources:
Kids Help Phone – Text “CONNECT” to 686868, kidshelphone.ca
Youthspace.ca – Text (778) 783-0177, youthspace.ca
Online Resources:
Better Help – betterhelp.com (online access to professional counsellors)
The LifeLine App – thelifelinecanada.ca (direct access to phone, online chat, text and email crisis support)
Big White Wall Canada – bigwhitewall.ca (anonymous peer support community accessible anytime and anywhere)
