Brock University’s student-athletes are letting others know they are not alone.

The Brock Badgers’ sports teams, led by the Student-Athlete Leadership Council (SALC), participated in Bell Let’s Talk Day on Wednesday, Jan. 25 to raise awareness of mental health and create positive change, specifically among their peers.

“You are more than just an athlete, and it can be difficult at times to remember to find time for the other things in your life,” said SALC co-president Meera Sayal, a fourth-year Kinesiology student on the women’s volleyball team. “Whether that’s focusing on your social life, relationships with your family or, the most important in my opinion, time for yourself and well-being.”

The Badgers’ will be giving away Bell Let’s Talk toques and rally towels to the first 100 fans at varsity home games Friday, Jan. 27.

Games include:

• Men’s hockey vs. University of Toronto (Canada Games Park), 6 p.m. | TICKETS
• Women’s volleyball vs. York University, (Bob Davis Gymnasium), 6 p.m. | TICKETS
• Men’s volleyball vs. York University, (Bob Davis Gymnasium), 8 p.m. | TICKETS

The University’s Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre (SWAC) will have a table outside the entrance to Bob Davis Gymnasium with information about student support services, including crisis resources, Personal Counselling Services, Student Health Services and Student Accessibility Services.

“Others may gain strength to speak about what they’re going through from hearing stories about struggles with depression, eating disorders or anxiety,” said SALC co-president Mario Peccia, a third-year Sport Management student on the men’s hockey team. “We should all work together to end the stigma of weakness sometimes associated with mental health and replace it with a show of strength and unity. You are never alone.”

Brock’s mental health supports have been nationally recognized by the Maclean’s University Rankings.

SALC vice-president Rebekah Feld, a first-year Master of Science (Applied Health Sciences) student on the women’s hockey team, said education about mental health is the first step to removing any stigma.

“Brock has a ton of resources and it’s important that students, student-athletes and coaches are aware of these,” she said. “Brock Sports recently added athlete-specific counselling, and I think that’s also a huge step forward. Being a student athlete carries many unique challenges, from managing academics and physical injuries to pressures around athletic performance. It’s important to check-in on each other. You never know how much a simple ‘how are you?’ can mean.”

The Brock women’s hockey team was one of many Badgers varsity sports teams taking part in Bell Let’s Talk Day on Wednesday, Jan. 25.