MONTREAL (December 12, 2022) - We are excited to announce that an investment of $2.4 million will be allocated towards direct support for mental health resources and initiatives thanks to the federal Minister of Sport, the Honourable Pascale St-Onge and Sport Canada.
All Sport Canada carded athletes, non-carded national team athletes, and national team-level coaches are eligible for up to $2500/year of mental health support. Accessing it is quite simple – email [email protected] to reach the Mental Health Network Coordinator for confidential service. They will explain the process, connect you to a qualified individual with a background in sport, and arrange for payment.
In addition, NSOs that are navigating challenging circumstances or crisis (this could include but is not limited to trauma, scandal, harm) and require customized care for athletes, coaches, teams, or organizations as a whole, can reach out to Game Plan’s interim mental health manager, Lisa Hoffart, [email protected] or [email protected] and we can discuss a plan of action that would include financial support from Game Plan.
"This is great news for the sport system and we certainly want to share the information far and wide immediately. Please ensure your athletes, coaches and support staff are all informed. This is one piece of news that is worth repeating with the goal of making sure everyone knows how to access care," says Cara Button, Senior Manager of Game Plan.
For more information on the announcement click here
Statement on Minister of Sport’s Funding for Mental Health Announcement
FAQs – What athletes need to know
Does funding accrue over time?
No. Unused mental health funding does not accumulate over the course of an athlete’s career. For example, if an athlete used $500 of mental health funding in 2021, they do not have access to $4,500 (remaining $2,000 + new $2,500) of funding in 2022. Game Plan-eligible athletes have access to $2,500 of funding for mental health each year. Funding renews on April 1 annually.
Can mental health funding be used to pay for care provided by a mental health practitioner who is not part of the Mental Health Network or Canadian Centre for Mental Health and Sport?
No. Game Plan funding may only be applied to care received from mental health practitioners who are part of the Mental Health Network or Canadian Centre for Mental Health and Sport. With more than 50 mental health practitioners to choose from across Canada, athletes have access to a diverse pool of practitioners with sport-specific knowledge and clinical training in various specialties (e.g., eating disorders).
What other mental health support is available?
Athletes can also access support through Game Plan’s mental health partner, Lifeworks. Lifeworks offers a 24/7 helpline, short-term counselling, self-directed mental health programs, group therapy, and several mental health maintenance tools to help athletes stay healthy.
How can funding be accessed?
Funding is accessed through the Mental Health Network Coordinator whose role is to understand athletes’ mental health concerns, assess athletes’ eligibility for funding, and match them with a mental health practitioner who knows sport and can meet their mental health needs. Athletes may contact the Mental Health Network Coordinator directly or be referred by an ally such as an MPC or coach.
Does Game Plan receive athletes’ mental health information?
No. The Mental Health Network Coordinator is a contractor of the Canadian Centre for Mental Health in Sport and is the only person monitoring the [email protected] email. Game Plan only receives aggregate data (i.e., population-level, de-identified statistics) that help us advocate for funding, programs, and supports for athletes.