Pittsburgh Penguins players will wear “Hockey Talks” decals on their helmets during tonight’s game against Boston at TD Garden as part of an important NHL initiative to raise awareness and help end the stigma around mental health.

 

The Hockey Talks program began in 2013, following the tragic passing of Canucks player Rick Rypien at age 27 in 2011.  Rick was passionate about reducing the stigma associated with mental health by becoming a spokesperson on the issue before losing his own battle.  The Penguins are one of 17 NHL teams that are participating.

 

Here in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation has partnered with EMBRACE Pittsburgh to hold the team’s second annual “Break the Ice Day,” today to coincide with the team’s Hockey Talks plans.

 

The joint goal of Break the Ice Day and the NHL’s Hockey Talks campaign is to create an environment where people feel comfortable talking about their mental health. Throughout the day, Penguins fans are encouraged to “Break the ice” by checking-in with their loved ones about their mental health.  Fans can join the conversation on social media using the hashtags #BreakTheIce and #HockeyTalks in their messaging.

 

The Penguins Foundation and EMBRACE Pittsburgh, a city-wide movement focused on championing mental strength throughout the region, have partnered on joint initiatives that can be found by visiting the Penguins Foundation website here.

 

To learn more about EMBRACE Pittsburgh, visit https://www.embracepittsburgh.org/