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Carey Price’s NHL leave opens doors to mental health conversations

Content warning: This story contains content some readers may find distressing. Discretion is advised.

NEW WESTMINSTER (NEWS 1130) – It’s a far cry from the situation just a handful of years ago, but today, we’re seeing more and more athletes take time away from their sports to focus on themselves and their mental wellbeing.

On Thursday, it was announced Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price would be voluntarily entering the NHL’s player assistance program. Though the league did not get into the specifics as to why he was taking a leave from the game, his wife, Angela, took to social media to allude that the B.C.-born Olympian was struggling with his mental health.

“Part of the privilege of being in the position our family is in, is that we also get a public platform to show how there is and can be a path to light for anyone who is struggling,” Angela Price wrote.

“No matter what is on the line, we hope we can communicate the importance of putting your mental health first not just by saying it, but by showing up and doing the work to get better,” the statement continued.

“I think that this may very well, and in many ways, mark the year that we look back and say, ‘This is when the stigma that we saw associated with mental health really started to collapse,'” said Steve Mathias, executive director of Foundry, B.C. — a community-based health and social service network for young people.

Price’s leave from the NHL has already opened doors to conversations about putting mental health ahead of sports. But he was not the first. His leave follows similar decisions by athletes in other sports, like gymnastics and tennis.

Advocates say seeing pro athletes put themselves first helps break through the stigma around mental health struggles, and encourages others to make sure it’s addressed and not tossed aside.

“Well I’ll tell you what, I almost killed myself 25 years ago, right, because of it. [It was] unheard of even five years ago,” said former NHL goalie Corey Hirsch about athletes being public with mental health struggles.

“We’re at the point now where I think we’re in a good place. And as horrific as COVID has been — and I will never, ever say that COVID has any good things come out of it — the only thing that’s made a difference in mental health has been these last couple of years,” added Hirsch, who has been a prominent mental health advocate.


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Hirsch, who credits hockey for saving his life, says it’s important people not jump to conclusions as Price steps away. For instance, making assumptions about how the sport has impacted him.

“It’s not the sport. Hockey saved me. I’m sure for Carey Price, hockey saved him. It’s what’s happened to us along the way, and that might be away from sport, we don’t know,” he explained.

Each person’s journey for help is unique, and Mathias says the act of even reaching out for help can be tough for many.

“That is a slightly different stigma, and it requires, I think, a different approach, which is basically, ‘Hey, you know what, don’t worry about what you think it is. Why don’t you come in and talk about it, and see what we can do, and whether or not that helps,'” Mathias told CityNews.

While you can also help someone who may be struggling with their mental health by having a conversation with them, it’s also important to note different people have different comfort levels.

“There are, quite often, consequences to sharing your story. Some of those are very positive and sometimes they can be negative. I think it’s really important to be as consent-driven as possible in inviting people in to share a story, and to make sure that as viewers or listeners to these stories, that we’re not just consuming these stories, that actually we’re thinking about the implications of what it takes to share a story,” explained Jonny Morris, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association, B.C. division.

For Hirsch, he says the best thing he’s done is get help.

“I am proof that going and getting help, it gets better. A lot better. And if you don’t (get help), I promise you it’ll get even worse than what it is. So go get the help, it’s there.”

If you or someone you know needs help, dial 310.6789 in B.C., or call the Canada Suicide Prevention Service helpline at 888.456.4566

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