Garrett McFadden is a part time economics student at the University of Guelph while also juggling the role as captain of the Guelph Storm junior hockey team. He is now launching his own mental health initiative. The campaign is geared towards minor hockey players facing the same struggles Garrett did through his playing career.
McFadden’s movement is a non-profit foundation that encourages awareness and healthy discussion among minor hockey players about mental health issues. Through the initiative Garrett visits minor hockey teams around the region and shares his own struggles with mental health issues, rooted back to the loss of a fellow hockey player years ago.
Along with spreading awareness, his campaign helps to raise funding for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and for Wes for Youth.
I had the opportunity to talk to Garrett about McFadden’s movement, as well as how he’s handling a full time hockey career while being a part time student and having such a large impact on the community.
This is your fourth OHL season and first as captain of the Guelph Storm, how does it feel to be wearing the C?
“It feels good. It’s special and something I take great pride in. It’s cool to be able to represent the Storm and the guys.”
How do you manage to find a balance between hockey and being a student at UofG? And now making time for this new movement?
“I don’t like to be sitting around, the busier I am the more I get done. That’s something I’ve gotten used to being a hockey player all my life.”
What is McFadden’s movement and what inspired the initiative?
“It started up in the summer with help from Stephanie Coratti. I wanted to take on a role doing something myself and making a difference in the community. So we focus on young athletes, hockey players going through similar situations. I go in and talk to kids, tell them my story, with Wes and everything I’ve dealt with in minor career and OHL career. We provide support systems for them and show these kinds that they have outlets and places to talk. Raising awaresness is huge, but we also help raise money for CMHA and Wes for Youth.”
What are you hoping to achieve through this movement and what are you hoping young kids take away from this?
“If I can make an impact on one kid I talk to and prevent something serious from happening, or just open doors or horizons to them… that’s the main focus for me, help kids.”
Of course the goal of the movement is to educate young hockey players about mental health, but how has the movement impacted yourself and your own perspective on mental health? Has it opened your eyes to any new realizations or made you think of things differently?
“Yeah, I’ve learned a lot about the kids and myself. Every time I tell my story there’s one more thing I notice that I never realized about myself before, and took it into a new perspective. Every time I do a talk it’s a new experience. It’s cool to go in and learn a bit more about myself.”
How can people get involved with McFadden’s movement?
“Following our Twitter and Facebook pages, hashtaging “join the movement” to spread awareness. We also partnered with Team Ltd to do hats and wristbands that are available at the Spyke Store.”
McFadden’s movement Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcfaddensmvmnt
McFadden’s movement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McFaddensMovement/
#jointhemovement
To donate to CMHA visit: http://www.cmha.ca
To donate to Wes for Youth visit: http://www.wesforyouthonline.ca
Photo: Dean Palmer