First Line

The NHLPA, in collaboration with Opening Minds and the Mental Health Commission of Canada, is proud to have launched First Line, an education and leadership program developed to strengthen NHLPA members’ mental health knowledge and skills.

The first of its kind in professional sports, First Line was developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Opening Minds and the NHLPA’s Health and Wellness Team – specifically for NHL players. This program is designed to directly address the issues faced by players and their families.

First Line will:

  • Increase knowledge about common mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, substance use and self-harm;
  • Provide skills for offering peer-to-peer support; and
  • Educate about the stigma of mental illness and how to combat it.

Players who are graduates of the First Line will be empowered to act as advocates for mental health and to provide and seek support when necessary. 

First Line is a course that is designed to be completed in a group format. Delivered in-person or online, the course is offered to NHLPA members on a voluntary basis and is delivered by NHLPA consulting psychologist and former NHL player, Jay Harrison. All players who complete the First Line will receive a certificate of completion from the Mental Health Commission of Canada in recognition of completion.

Mikael Backlund and Blake Wheeler were among the first 20 NHLPA members to participate in First Line training. The players share why it was important to them to get involved in the voluntary program in the video clip below, shared during the official launch of the program January 10, 2024.

  • The First Line program gives players tools to create a locker room and culture that combats the many stigmas around mental health. This allows for players to feel comfortable dealing with the ebbs and flows of the season without judgement. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to take part in the course and learn how our team can continue to emphasize the well being of each other both on and off the ice. Darnell Nurse (NHLPA Member, Edmonton Oilers)
  • The goal of First Line is no player feels intimidated or self-stigmatized, afraid to talk to another player about what they might be going through because of the fear of how they’ll be judged by a teammate. Jay Harrison (NHLPA Wellness, Transition, and Performance Specialist)
  • Guys know that we have each other’s backs. We’re looking out for each other. ... The minute you share those experiences, the minute you are open to getting help if you need it, is the minute you understand it is a shared experience. Blake Wheeler (NHLPA Member, New York Rangers)

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