Maximizing your potential requires taking care of your physical and mental health.
Our MAX OUT philosophy means giving your best in every area and growing into your fullest self. That includes building resilience, self-awareness, and emotional strength. In addition to a strong support system, these traits will play a significant role when things get tough. Mental health It impacts how players grow, how families support, and how we all thrive together. That’s why we’re committed to making mental wellness part of the conversation.
This post is a reminder to every member of our community that you’re not alone. Mental health challenges are real, they’re common, and there are tools and people ready to help.
The pressure to perform, the grind of training, and the balancing act of academics, friendships, and expectations can take a toll on young athletes. And for parents, it can be overwhelming to navigate how best to support their kids through the ups and downs of life and sport.
Below, we’ve curated a list of public resources that can support both athletes and parents. Whether you’re navigating daily stress, working through family dynamics, or facing more serious concerns, these tools are here for you.
Mental Health Resources for Athletes & Families
Family Smart
Family Smart is powerful resource hub created by families, for families, FamilySmart offers a wide range of tools, stories, and support services. You can access their main resources section by clicking here, or learn from the experiences and strategies that help in the hard moments by viewing a library of videos here. Additionally, a practice tool like this is awesome as a primer for conversations.
- Main Resource: https://familysmart.ca/resources/
- Video Resources:https://familysmart.ca/videos/
Mental Health Foundations
https://mentalhealthfoundations.ca/home
Focused on empowering caregivers with education and tools to better support their loved ones.
This Emotionally Focused Family Therapy video is a great one-hour webinar that we recommend watching.
Sashbear Foundation
Sashbear offers a Family Connections Program and resources on navigating emotional distress and suicidal ideation within families. View their resources on suicide by clicking here.
Additional Resources
The S.E.L.F Toolkit was created to help you understand what things tend to cause you stress, what stress looks like for you, and what tools you can try to help you feel better.
Mental Health Commission has the following resource on Talking to Children About a Suicide
If you’re struggling, overwhelmed, or unsure of what to do next, know that you’re not alone. These tools are here to support you, and so are we. Whether you need guidance, a starting point, or just someone to talk to, we’ll do our best to connect you with meaningful support that makes a difference.
