ACAC Launches Digital “Make Some Noise for Mental Health” Campaign with RBC and CMHA Alberta

Edmonton, AB (January 13, 2021) – Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) student athletes and mental health advocates have partnered with RBC to promote this year's annual mental health awareness campaign. 

Make Some Noise for Mental Health is an award-winning campaign that promotes mental health awareness on 17 post-secondary campuses in 16 Alberta and Saskatchewan communities. This is the sixth year of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) endorsed campaign, and the ACAC is pleased to partner once again with RBC as the presenting sponsor for the fifth year.

The campaign has adopted an innovative new virtual delivery format this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning on 'Blue Monday' January 18 through January 29, 2021, the 2-week online campaign will creatively engage student-athletes and mental health advocates in a digital environment.

Given the psychological and social challenges confronting post-secondary students during the current restrictions created by social isolation and online learning, and further compounded for student athletes by the suspension of athletics activities, 2021 may prove to be the most essential edition of this annual campaign.

"The ACAC is pleased to once again partner with RBC and CMHA to draw attention to the importance of promoting and maintaining positive mental health," says Mark Kosak, CEO, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. "The mutual understanding and recognition by RBC about how important it is to conduct our campaign was certainly gratifying. Although we are forced to modify the delivery of the campaign due to the pandemic, all agreed it was crucial to provide this supportive and symbolic gesture to our students and maintain the momentum of the annual campaign. Our students genuinely look forward to this opportunity to promote mental health and I expect this year they may embrace that message like never before."

"Now, more than ever, the conversation around mental health and breaking the stigma is critical," says Jeff Boyd, Regional President of RBC in Alberta and the Territories. "We're committed to advancing this important work together with the ACAC and mental health advocates in Alberta, and collectively, we can have a greater impact on our communities."

The Make Some Noise project was initiated by the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Trojans in January 2015, and the Trojan Outreach Program won a national community service award for their efforts.

"As our world became more complex and stressful this past year, students and ACAC student-athletes in particular, are faced with a broad spectrum of mental health challenges and we're only beginning to truly understand the full and varying effect that can have," says Kosak. "As future leaders, our student-athletes understand how this campaign contributes to societal views about mental health to create a more understanding and tolerant future."

Despite the impact COVID-19 has made on Alberta's post-secondary student-athletes, including the cancellation of the 2020-21 competitive season, it will not stop student-athletes and mental health advocates from collaborating with RBC to promote this year's annual mental health awareness campaign.

Full schedule available online at
http://acac.ab.ca/make-some-noise/make-some-noise-2021-events

• Media Kit 
• Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference 
• CMHA Alberta 
• RBC 
• Make Some Noise for Mental Health Facebook page 
• Hashtags: #MakeSomeNoise #MentalHealth

The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca

Mark Kosak, ACAC
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca

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