The Student-Athlete Mental Health Initiative is a charitable organization dedicated to promoting wellness and mental health, and supporting student-athletes who may suffer from a mental health problem or illness.
OUR PHILOSOPHY: CHANGING THE CULTURE OF VARSITY SPORT
Many post-secondary students will face a mental health challenge. This can interrupt their studies, affect academic performance and impact their day-to-day lives.
Post-secondary athletes can face similar challenges with added pressures of being both a student and an athlete. They must perform in school and sport, handle finances, plan for the future, and stay connected to friends and family.
Often they struggle to get help because of the stigma surrounding mental health and illness in sports. The expectation to be mentally tough keeps many student-athletes silent and isolated.
SAMHI works to educate Canadians about the vulnerabilities of student-athletes. We aim promote the mental wellbeing of all student-athletes. And we work to support those struggling with a mental health concern or illness.
CAMPUS TEAMS
In Spring 2015, the call went out to current student-athletes for Campus Team membership. We asked each person why they wanted to volunteer with SAMHI. Some had struggled in the past with mental illness, some had watched loved ones struggle, some had an academic interest in mental health, and all wanted to be involved in the community.
SAMHI’s Campus Teams are at the core of our student-athlete centred approach. Student-athletes help design, guide and carry-out SAMHI’s on-the-ground activities at post-secondary campuses across Canada. The Campus Teams lead SAMHI’s Mental Health Matchups, help other student-athletes access resources, and increase community awareness of student-athletes as a vulnerable population to mental health concerns.
To join the Campus Team at StFX email one of our representatives for more information:
Chloe Oleksiuk, X-Women Hockey
Luc Gallant, X-Men Cross Country Track
McKiya Mazur, X-Women Hockey
2023-24 STFX SAMHI EVENTS:
FREE YOGA SESSIONS for STFX student-athletes!
Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024
7:00-7:45 pm and 8:00-8:45 pm at KMC conference rooms
Bring a yoga mat (some available on site) and join instructor Jerome Stewart
SIGN UP HERE
BELL LET'S TALK GAMES
Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024
X-Men Hockey vs DAL, 7:00 pm at Keating Centre
X-Women & X-Men Basketball vs SMU, 6:00 & 8:00 pm at Saputo Centre
Come out and cheer on our X-Men and X-Women teams in AUS action Wednesday night! Fill out a Bell Let's Talk speech bubble at the game, pick up some Bell Let's Talk stickers and information and there will be chances to win Bell Let's Talk prizes throughout the game! Don't forget share your actions online using #BellLetsTalk and help inspire others to join the movement to create positive change.
HEADS UP CAN GUEST SPEAKER - Ryan Sutton
Date and Time TBD
Join in with a free session with Ryan Sutton, Executive Director of the Headsup Concussion Advocacy Network. Headsup CAN generates concussion awareness and research through our unique lived experience approach while also providing leading edge concussion education programs that effectively utilizes different forms of media and leverages existing resources.
