Hockey players need therapists, too

The National Hockey League Player Association is launching a mental health initiative called First Line, which will educate players about depression, anxiety, substance use, and self-harm.

Run by former NHL defenseman-turned-mental health counselor and advocate Dr. Jay Harrison, the program is being touted as the first type of mental health initiative of its kind in professional sports. The NHL is hoping to train its players to look for signs and look out for one another.

“It’s just really important to help my teammates any way I can and now being the captain I felt like it was my responsibility to take this course,” said Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund to The Athletic. “My First Line experience was really good. I thought we had a really good meeting. I talked to my teammates afterward and they were all very positive about the meeting, felt like we learned a lot. There were some simple little things that can help us big time, be really good leaders on the team or just a good teammate.”

Mental health has been on the minds of many professional hockey players (current and former) in the last few years. Goaltender Robin Lehner opened up about his struggles with addiction and his journey with bipolar disorder. Stephen Johns recently rollerbladed across America in the name of mental health advocacy after he said he experienced suicidal ideations after retiring due to post-concussion syndrome. Colin Wilson opened up about having OCD to The Players Tribune.

It is a step in the right direction as the NHLPA has had a history of doing wrong by some players. Lehner has spoken out about them about their treatment of injuries.

“I was one of those players who worked through and ‘sucked it up’ in order to live our dream,” the goalie said. “Sometimes our perspective of what is truly important can be skewed by how much we’ve invested in being athletes,” said Harrison. “And nobody should have to sacrifice their mental health or well-being in order to be an athlete.”