(Chelsea Update would like to thank Alan Ashley for the photos and Derek Schaedig for the information in this story.)
The Chelsea High School hockey team – along with the Chelsea Hockey Association – held a mental health awareness game hosted by the mental health non-profit be nice on Friday night.
Chelsea lost to Lumen Christi 3-1.
The Chelsea Varsity Hockey team coupled with the Chelsea Hockey Association supported mental health awareness using the be nice. action plan by hosting a be nice. nation game on Feb. 2.
Chelsea High School’s Athletic Department partnered with the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan/ be nice.
Leading up to the competition, almost every head coach in the CHS Athletic Department was trained in the be nice. action plan – teaching them to recognize the signs and symptoms of a mental health challenge and how to take action when they notice these changes.
This program is a simple and effective way to empower coaches and athletes with a game plan for mental health concerns.
Parents and spectators were also briefed on the be nice. action plan at the game.
The game included:
An introduction to the be nice. action plan from founder and Executive Director of be nice. Christy Buck
- Notice what is right or different
- Invite yourself to reach out
- Challenge stigma and access resources empower yourself and others with knowledge and resources
Also included was:
- A score-O competition where Chelsea Hockey Association youth coaches took turns attempting to score goals from a far distance to try to win be nice. wristbands for their entire youth hockey team.
- A chuck-a-puck competition with proceeds supporting the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan/ be nice.
- The winner received a mini stick signed by the captain of the Chelsea High School hockey team Brandon Davila.
- The CHS student section received be nice. rally towels and be nice. nation T-shirts were tossed into the crowd as well.
To learn more about the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan/ be nice. and how you can support mental health and suicide prevention education, you can visit www.benice.org.
