As part of its commitment to mental health and wellness, Tennis Canada is expanding the promotion of and access to mental health resources throughout the national competitive structure and within the Provincial and Territorial Tennis Associations (PTTAs).
Originally unveiled in 2024, the first-of-its-kind mental health strategy features a three-year rollout plan guided by three pillars: promote, support and care. The promote pillar aims to raise awareness and encourage healthy habits, while the support pillar provides educational and wellness resources to the tennis community, and the care pillar ensures access to appropriate mental health services and assistance.
Phase one of the strategy focused primarily on offering resources and education to Tennis Canada’s national teams, including its National Tennis Centre presented by Rogers, Regional Training Centres and National High-Performance Program. Additionally, training has been offered to Tennis Canada staff, to help foster a positive attitude towards mental health throughout the entire organization.
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Phase two is now well underway, underpinned by the support and care pillars within the competitive structure system and PTTAs. This phase focuses on facilitating access to mental health and wellness resources at national events across Canada, beginning at the Fischer Indoor Junior Nationals in March. The aim is to have this presence at all Tennis Canada national championships throughout the 2026 tennis calendar.
“Mental health and wellness are priorities throughout each stage of development within the competitive structure in Canada,” said Marie Davies, Senior Manager, National Events. “By ensuring our athletes, coaches and families have access to mental health resources, from grassroots tennis to our highest levels, we help encourage their continued participation in Tennis Canada-sanctioned tournaments and events for life.”
Ahead of each junior national competition, Tennis Canada meets with parents and players to introduce them to the difference between mental health, mental illness and mental performance to help normalize conversations around mental wellness. This literacy also helps ensure families are aware of the support and resources available to them and their athletes throughout the tournament.
“We want to send a message to our athletes, parents, coaches and beyond that mental health is just as important as physical health,” said Marie-Josée Bellemare, Director of Wellness. “By promoting mental well-being, we can take a holistic approach that supports our athletes’ overall health, resilience and ability to thrive both on and off the court.”
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During the events, participating athletes are also invited to sign the Positive Court Pledge, creating open conversations and eliminating stigma surrounding mental health struggles. Through the pledge, players help to foster a culture of positivity around mental health and wellness which extends onto the court, to opponents and teammates but also to officials, organizers and volunteers.
Looking ahead, Tennis Canada aims to strengthen mental health and wellness awareness across the entire tennis ecosystem. Designing strategies that match the reality of each part of the system helps create a culture where athletes, parents, coaches, and staff can recognize when help is needed, feel comfortable seeking mental health and wellness support, and know where to access the appropriate resources and assistance.
Feature photo: André Noël
