The Camosun College Athletics department invites students, employees and fans to attend their Chargers basketball games on Friday, February 1 to cheer on the teams and make a whole lot of noise in the nation-wide campaign to break the stigma surrounding mental health!

 

Now in its third year at Camosun, the Chargers’ Make Some Noise for Mental Health campaign is part of a long-term outreach initiative across the Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association (CCAA), espousing three primary goals:

 

·       To reduce/eliminate the stigmas related to mental health, wellness and mental illness.

·       To create awareness about local mental health resources on campus and the surrounding community.

·       To encourage empathy and understanding through open-minded conversations about mental health.

Supporting the Make Some Noise event, are 2017 CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Silver Medalists, and Bachelor of Sport and Fitness Leadership students, Stephanie Galitzine and Katie Wayling. Galitzine, who has been a champion of the mental health campaign since its’ early beginnings, has presently put her knee pads aside, but remains involved with the Chargers as the team’s Strength and Conditioning Coach and helps coach on court one night a week. Fourth-year Chargers setter and CCAA Athlete of the Week, Katie Wayling will team up with Galitzine for a second time to help lead the charge against the stigmas around mental health.

Make Some Noise for Mental Health
Make Some Noise for Mental Health

Stephanie and Katie are putting out the call to all their fellow students and student-athletes to attend the event and want people to know that getting involved with the campaign is very easy.

 

“Students can get involved in really simple ways,” explains Galitzine, who earned the 2018 Camosun College President’s Cup for her outstanding academic achievements. “It can be the smallest thing, like showing up to the game and cheering on the teams. Or just supporting your friends or classmates and asking them how they’re doing. Students are already so busy that when they hear the word involvement or commitment, it often discourages them from taking part. The truth is, it’s the little things that can create a big impact.”

 

Galitzine adds, “We encourage as many people to show up as possible. The more people we reach, the more acceptance there is and it just grows and grows. With each subsequent year, we’ve seen this event get bigger and better. It’s important that we keep campaigning every year because support for mental health isn’t just a fad — it’s on-going and affects everyone around us.”

 

Those wanting to be part of this year’s event simply have to attend the Chargers Feb 1 basketball games, bring their best noisemaker (voices, cheering and clapping also count) and help make Camosun the LOUDEST in the land! As part of the campaign, photos and video will be taken and shared nation-wide. Games are located at the Chargers’ home gym in the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence on Camosun’s Interurban campus (4371 Interurban Road).

 

Fri          Feb 1     Camosun hosts the Capilano University Blues      Women 6pm              Men 8pm

 

Admission:

FREE      Student with valid Camosun ID and children 12U

$4          Seniors (65+) and Youth (13-17) and UVic/other Students

$6          Adults