PFA Canada announces free mental health service for players

Onrise, a mental health service provider specializing in sports, has partnered with PFA Canada, a statement announced on Tuesday.

Through the partnership, CPL players — who are represented by and unionized through PFA Canada  — will have access to mental health support at no cost to them.  The deal between Onrise and PFA Canada will run for two years, with services made available to players before the start of the 2025 CPL season.

“Since forming PFA Canada, we’ve worked through advocacy, collective bargaining and strategic partnerships to create an environment where our members feel supported on and off-the-pitch,” said Marco Carducci, President of PFA Canada, in the release.

“With Onrise, we’re prioritizing athlete mental wellness alongside the pursuit of athletic excellence – and ensuring our members thrive as people too.”

The CPL and PFA Canada have been quietly negotiating a collective bargaining agreement for some time but a deal has yet to be struck.

PFA Canada was founded in 2020.

Cover Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillan / Halifax Wanderers FC