Our Objectives
Connect Sport objectives
Participants will be able to support mental health needs of themselves and others through 3 key interrelated concepts:
Identify
Bolstering knowledge about mental health will help participants learn to recognize early warning signs of mental disorders or mental health problems in youth and others.
- Get to know your youth.
- Create a positive, supportive atmosphere.
- Create and allow the opportunity for youth to talk to you, listen.
- Increase knowledge about mental disorders and mental health problems to better understand.
- Recognize any changes in behaviour and attitude.
Model
Promoting a healthy attitude towards mental health will help participants learn how to model supportive behaviours and accurate language to reduce stigma and create inclusive and supportive environments for youth.
- Use the right language when talking about mental health and mental disorders.
- Call out stigmatizing language.
- Create positive environments with reasonable expectations and accountability.
- Be aware and take care of your own mental health.
- Prepare yourself in how to respond when a youth comes forward with a concern.
Link
Building relationships and linking struggling youth to resources and pathways to care may encourage youth to reach out for help if they are struggling.
- Do a “light check in” if concerns arise.
- Increase knowledge to help others and improve their help-seeking skills.
- Relay concerns to parents / guardians.
- Provide reputable links to help (helplines, etc).