It was 27-March and I was boarding a slightly later train into the city when I saw a past colleague out of the corner of my eye boarding the train just ahead of me. I said hi, as I'm known to do. At first she seemed startled, but recognizing me she waived in my direction. As we got on the train it looked as it we'd each sit in separate sections. I often sit in the middle pull open my laptop and start my day on the train. She stopped turned and we ended up sitting together. 

On the way into the city she told me about her kids, how busy her family was and how her husband who I also knew well was doing. All very busy but happy stuff. She told me about her current assignment at work and how she was finding the commute before I asked about old colleagues of ours that she still worked with.

By now you're probably thinking, "but Brian, what does your commute and old colleagues have to do with mental health or hockey?" Sadly it had a lot to do with it.

As we talked about our mutual people the usual suspects were good, it took a few minutes but she came to it. One of our past colleagues had taken their own life last year and died by suicide. She spoke about the affect it had around the office, how it impacted peers and friends. We wondered about the family left behind. It's not the first time I've had one of these exact conversations. I don't even think it will be the last. It's heart breaking to think of people you've heard of, acquaintances and folks you worked along side no longer being here.

I don't post this to be another sad reminder of mental illness and its pervasiveness or it's unchecked consequences. I share it as a reminder that  we do in the face of it has meaning. It has purpose and it still needs doing, because despite hashtags and social media posts at the end of the day its our collective actions that will save lives, help people realize their potential and give us all a sense of pride in supporting one another. 

So look after yourself, educate yourself, be there for your friends, family and colleagues. Support campaigns and people who are bold enough to share their stories. I know I will.

2018 another year and another opportunity to make an impact in our community for those with Mental Illness and their friends and family.

Ending Stigma is huge and making real impact with the donations we collect each year is that much better. Along with RBC we kept the doors open for CMHA Durham's YASP (Youth Activity & Support Program) for another year. 

All together we've raised over sixty thousand dollars to support mental health initiatives in Durham Region but our work is still important. According to DurhamRegion.com last year alone by the time our tournament had happened there had been 24 confirmed suicides in Durham Region and 1000 calls related to suicide attempts. IN 2016 Durham Police responded to 90,000 calls for Mental Health service.

Theres more we can to so go to nosurrenderhockeychallenge.com Sign-up to Play, Volunteer or just come to the rink and support the cause. Every bit helps.

So after almost a month, some straggler donations coming in and finding the time to put a bow on everything we can finally report to you the results of 2017's No Surrender Hockey Challenge.

It's with tremendous pride that we announce our donation total to CMHA Durham this year is $12,210.79.

A special thanks to our volunteers this year who did an amazing job supporting the event:

• Time Keepers - Tom Ansell, Katie Ansell, Nicole Ansell, Liana Clements, Jason Clements, Jake Hutchison, Abigayle Giarrizzzo, Kate Davies
• Registration/Bake Sale - Jennifer Stanton, Leslie Stanton, Bronwen Spiers, Troy Bramley, Brooke Halpert, Melanie Curley, Karen Donnelly

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​CMHA Durham has allotted this years funds for the Youth Activity Support Program (YASP). YASP provides at risk youth and their families with a mental health support system, access to a safe space, meals, and to technology as well as programs to develop skills for managing life's stresses and a foundation for independence..

Mental health struggles are challenging enough when you have the financial and familial support structures in place. YASP goes along way to fill in the gaps for those in our community who can truly benefit.

Over the years our participants have spoken out strongly in favour of putting our efforts towards youth mental health so we're very supportive of CMHA Durham's YASP program.

For more on YASP visit CMHA, Durham's Youth Support Services Page.

This years winner's of the Glenn Curley Memorial Trophy were the Big Sticks run by team Captain Devin McArthur. Well done boys.

A huge congrats to the Big Sticks, Beavers and BungalowDen.com for raising the hardware this year at the 6th Annual 2017 No Surrender Hockey Challenge.

We had another year of great hockey with some incredible skill on display. A shout out goes to Team Dojo and their fans for once again being the toast of the tournament. We've never seen a family like yours. It's a special thing that kind of support.

Special thanks to our Team Captains for rallying their squads together:

• Cory Groundsell
• Ryan Gardiner
• Steve Foster
• Brad Chapman
• Ben Stanton
• Kevin Bailey
• Jeff Durward
• Devin McArthur

Special Thanks to Jim Stanton for pulling together the Old Timer's Division and to all who helped in organize the draft including Russ Parks, and all those who helped out.

May 17, 2017 will always be remembered as a sad day by many. If you grew up in the 90’s you’d likely have heard Soundgarden’s front man Chris Cornell’s distinctive, 4 octave voice.. He was a huge part of a dark brooding grunge movement that provided the backdrop for our adolescent years. On the 17th Chris Cornell died by suicide.

Now hopefully his passing can provide a perspective on mental illness that moves us to take action.

The following is an excerpt from a 2014 interview Chris Cornell did with Rolling Stone Magazine.:

No matter how happy you are, you can wake up one day without any specific thing occurring to bring you into a darker place, and you'll just be in a darker place anyway. To me, that was always a terrifying thought, because that's something that – as far as I know – we don't necessarily have control over.
        
        - Chris Cornell 1994

Chris understood how pervasive mental illness could be and how sudden it could change ones outlook. 

Today we need to grasp that mental illness is very real; and that it can take anyone. No matter how famous, revered or respected. Anyone can be overcome by it. We need to understand the signs regardless of the cause. In Chris’ case his wife believes he may have had an adverse reaction to his anxiety medication.

Vicky Cornell noticed something. Chris was slurring his speech. A possible side affect of taking too much Ativan. She was listening and thinking about what her husband may be feeling as a result. She just couldn’t get help in time. She seemed to be on the right track. It’s too bad no one closer to him saw what she heard and felt. You can’t blame anyone. People just aren’t equipped to evaluate and act on the signs that someone may be struggling. Yet, being prepared is our best chance at making a difference for someone we care about.

One of the biggest challenges for mental illness sufferers and their peers is that it’s such an uncomfortable idea to ask someone about their emotional and mental state. To query with real curiosity and empathy. It feels invasive. It’s not something we are raised to do. Tell people how we feel when it’s not all rainbows and sunshine or genuinely ask someone how they feel and be prepared to listen.

If there is anything we need to take away from another prominent person passing by suicide it’s this: we need to create a more open environment for those closest to us to talk when they are in trouble. We need to remove the stigma that comes with that. Then we need to get the skills to identify and engage someone we feel is struggling. So we can get out ahead of it and provide the safety net that Cornell’s wife Vicky tried to provide.

We can all fall on black days. Many of us have and many will.  Lets be there for each other.

For more information on how you can support someone you care about sign-up for a 1/2 hour Engage session at No Surrender Hockey Challenge or connect with your local CMHA branch. 

This past February we had a chance to sit down with CMHA Durham's Public Relations and Mental Health Promotions Specialist Mireille Huneault who's been instrumental in bringing our efforts to life inside the CMHA.

In Part 5 Mireille explains the importance of donors like No Surrender Hockey Challenge (including you) and the impact we have. She talks about No Surrender Hockey Challenge fully funding the YASP (Youth Activity Support Program) in 2016.

​This past February we had a chance to sit down with CMHA Durham's Public Relations and Mental Health Promotions Specialist Mireille Huneault who's been instrumental in bringing our efforts to life inside the CMHA.

Part 4 Mireille talks to us about what needs to change to improve the mental health system and our community's ability to support one another.

​This past February we had a chance to sit down with CMHA Durham's Public Relations and Mental Health Promotions Specialist Mireille Huneault who's been instrumental in bringing our efforts to life inside the CMHA.

In Part 3 of our interview with Mireille Huneault of CMHA Durham - Mireille talks about the most difficult challenges of working in mental health. She discusses importance of patience and not rushing the recovery process as a caregiver. She also shares what has been the most rewarding.

​This past February we had a chance to sit down with CMHA Durham's Public Relations and Mental Health Promotions Specialist Mireille Huneault who's been instrumental in bringing our efforts to life inside the CMHA.

Part 2 Focuses on Mireille's career in Mental Health. Her journey and the experience thats brought her to where she is today.

This past February we had a chance to sit down with CMHA Durham's Public Relations and Mental Health Promotions Specialist Mireille Hunault who's been instrumental in bringing our efforts to life inside the CMHA.

Mireille and I spoke about a number of topics including what CMHA's Durham branch does in our community; her role and her 24 year journey in mental health, including the challenges and rewarding experiences.; She high lights what could improve and she also fills us in on the importance of donors like No Surrender Hockey Challenge.

Part 1 Focuses on CMHA Durham and what they do for our community.,