Guelph Storm forward Danny Zhilkin and his partner Lauren Shoss want to give back. Not just to the Guelph community, but also the sporting community.
The couple has co-founded Zhilkin's Vision, a charitable foundation that aims to "prioritization and de-stigmatization of mental health and emotional well-being in sports."
One of its core foundations is making mental health help more acceptable and accessible for athletes and former athletes.
"We might be athletes, we might have busy and interesting lives, but it's okay to be not okay," says Zhilkin, 18, echoing the familiar mental health refrain. "Everybody has their own mental health struggles."
Zhilkin said it's important to give back to the sport and the community.
"Especially with the fans we have here in Guelph. It's such a strong community and it's important not to just give back to a city, but other athletes as well."
He said he and Shoss started thinking about something they could do in the community during his rookie year. Something that would give back.
COVID interrupted their plans, "but now just seemed like the right time to do it."
Shoss is playing a huge role in the initiative. The Burlington native is currently doing her masters degree in sports psychology and counselling at Boston University.
"It was a no-brainer to do something related to mental health and athletes," Shoss said. "It's just something we are both passionate about."
"In general, mental health resources can be quite inaccessible" due to cost or stigma attached to seeking them out, Shoss said.
"We hope Zhilkin's Vision will help remove or diminish any barriers to getting that help," said Shoss, whose personal goals include working in professional sports as a mental health professional as well as having a private practice that would offer professional help on a sliding scale for those that couldn't afford it.
"The stigma surrounding mental health, notably in sports, prevents conversations and prevents athletes from seeking support. Resources such as counsellors and sports psychologists are often inaccessible due to high costs and lack of availability," the pair posted on Instagram.
"Our goal is to work towards de-stigmatizing mental health in sports by normalizing conversations about mental and emotional well-being and providing a platform for athletes to reflect on their experiences, share info, and raise awareness about mental health in sports."
Zhilkin, a third-round draft pick of the NHL's Winnipeg Jets, said hockey is 80 to 90 per cent mental and if you are not okay mentally, you aren't okay as an athlete.
"I'm looking to continue this throughout my career," said Zhilkin, who is expected to be one of the top scorers in the OHL this season.
Zhilkin and Shoss point to other mental health-related foundations started by a pair of former Storm captains as a big inspiration for Zhilkin's Vision: McFadden's Movement started several years ago by Garrett McFadden and Hillis Found8tion started by Cam Hillis in 2020.
"They've been a great resource and inspiration," Shoss said.
Once details are ironed out, the first project on the plate will be a fundraising project for the local chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association.
A web site will be live shortly and there is a Zhilkin's Vision Instagram page.
Donated funds (info coming soon) will go towards local organizations that are working to improve mental health resources, while also supporting an athlete funding program.
