YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
Y
outh mental health is at the forefront of public 
concern. While youth struggle to cope with 
stress healthily, levels of depression and anxi-
ety continue to rise. Luckily, the Saskatchewan 
Roughriders are stepping up as community leaders 
through the Riders Foundation and continue to tackle 
this issue by empowering youth. Consisting of various 
programs, Tyler Lloyd, Director of Development with the 
foundation, highlighted their mental health and lit-
eracy programs. Partnering with local communities, the 
foundation supports youths through amateur football, 
health and education. 
TACKLING MENTAL HEALTH
This work makes waves across the province by bringing 
positive experiences to youth while also talking about 
mental health through their Win With Wellness program. 
The program reaches students of all ages across the 
province, particularly in Swift Current and Prince Albert. 
This past year, the Territory of Nunavut asked the foun-
Youth mental 
health 
empowerment
BY TYLER SHINGOOSE
The Riders 
Foundation
dation to become partners, which is a testament to the 
work they do. 
As part of its amateur sports program, the foundation 
operates the Northern Saskatchewan Football League, a 
program designed to keep youth in northern communi-
ties active and make football more accessible, introduc-
ing the sport to those who otherwise wouldn’t have had 
the opportunity to play it. Lloyd said, “Giving back to 
the youth and community through their charitable arm 
is important to the team, empowering future leaders 
by using their brand and ambassadors.” The initiative 
is supported by up to $3.3 million from the 50/50 raffle 
proceeds generated throughout the season.
Compassionate players, including Albert Awachie and 
Logan Ferland, are among the 10 to 15 players from the 
team who volunteer to help empower youth. They are 
trained in mental health first aid and to deliver educa-
tional programming. 
When approaching youth mental health, it’s important 
to go about it with compassion and in a trauma-in-
formed way. With the help of the Child Trauma Research 
Centre, they do just that. The centre collaborates in 
building the programming, and mental health special-
ists join the players to deliver school-based presenta-
tions that last about 40 minutes. 
Together, they open sharing circles to talk about stress, 
anxiety and the parts of the brain that are involved in 
mental health, then conclude by providing tools to cope 
with stress and anxiety. They also leave resources at the 
schools and open live Q&A sessions, building a connec-
tion with the students.
RUNNING NORTH AND 
BUILDING LITERACY
For youth, especially in the north of Saskatchewan, 
these initiatives are invaluable. Due to long travel dis-
tances and small populations, remote northern commu-
Rider Reading and Win With Wellness visit with Dhel Duncan-Busby at 
École Wilfrid Walker School. March 25, 2026.
28   
  Issue 1 – Summer 2026

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