(submitted photo/Kelly Linnell)

By Ben Tompkins

Green Game

Melfort school supports men’s mental health

Feb 27, 2023 | 5:20 PM

The Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate (MUCC) senior boy’s basketball team recently hosted a green game in support of men’s mental health.

The exhibition game had Melfort compete against Hudson Bay, as money was raised to fund future mental health initiatives.

“Our big push is just the awareness, to talk about it a lot more and just make it more public in our school,” said MUCC assistant coach, Kelly Linnell.

“The voids in our school about mental health and how to cope with things and that it’s OK to cry, and it’s OK to feel sad, but there is help out there. We need to be able to find those resources for our students.”

Prior to tip-off, there was also a video played, which the boys had made, surrounding the stereotypes that men constantly face, such as boys don’t cry so man up or you’re weak if you ask for help.

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They also included stats such as one in four men in Canada are more likely to commit suicide than women.

“They just stressed some of those and then said at the end of the day, we’re talking about being together to try and end the stigma around men’s mental health, but it’s OK to not be OK, and it’s OK to ask for help,” added Linnell.

The game was also created because of a similar one the girl’s team had for breast cancer.

Especially after Bell Let’s Talk Day, the boys decided they wanted to host their own event with a similar message.

“Green is the colour for men’s mental health and it’s actually the same ribbon as you know, the breast cancer ribbon,” explained Linnell. “We have shirts that say ‘I wear green for men’s mental health’ and it says ‘end the stigma.'”

The festivities raised roughly $1,000, which will be used to fund future mental health initiatives within the school.

And with this being the first game of its kind, it has yet to be determined if it will become a yearly tradition.

“It might be a school-wide event again, or it might be that we know of people that need counselling paid for, or that would really benefit from a gym membership, and that we can help out, when it comes to mental health,” Linell told northeastNOW.

“Hudson Bay did say that they would love to come back next year for the same thing, so we will see what happens.”

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If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of self-harm or experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact:

Canada Suicide Prevention Service (1-833-456-4566), Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Service (306-933-6200), Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit (306-764-1011), Regina Mobile Crisis Services (306-525-5333) or the Hope for Wellness Help Line, which provides culturally competent crisis intervention counseling support for Indigenous peoples at (1-855-242-3310).

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8