Climbing Escalade Canada is committed to athlete wellness as part of being athlete-centred. Sport gives athletes the chance to learn, grow, and live fuller lives, but it can also bring pressure to perform, heavy physical demands, and other stress. Wellness and performance go hand in hand: athletes who are well supported perform better and stay in the sport longer.
This page brings together information and resources on athlete wellness. Know of a resource that should be here? Email info@climbingcanada.ca.
Mental health
CEC cares deeply about the mental health of everyone in our community and is committed to a safe sporting environment. If you are struggling, you don’t have to handle it alone. These free, confidential services can help.
If you are in immediate danger
Call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency department.
National helplines
- 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 9-8-8, 24/7, in English or French.
- Canadian Sport Helpline: call or text 1-888-83SPORT (1-888-837-7678), or email info@abuse-free-sport.ca. For anyone who has experienced or witnessed abuse, harassment, or discrimination in sport. English and French.
- Kids Help Phone: call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868, 24/7. For young people aged 5 to 29. English and French.
- Hope for Wellness Help Line: call 1-855-242-3310, 24/7. For Indigenous peoples across Canada. English and French, with Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut on request.
Provincial helplines
- Sport’Aide (Quebec): call 1-833-211-2433 (French) or 1-833-245-4357 (English). Support for anyone affected by violence in sport.
- Assaulted Women’s Helpline (Ontario): call 1-866-863-0511, 24/7.
See Safe Sport for reporting and support options.
Nutrition
Good nutrition fuels training, recovery, and competition. Climbing is a sport where athletes can feel pressure around body weight, and under-fuelling harms both health and performance. CEC encourages athletes, parents, and coaches to treat food as fuel and to seek help early if eating becomes a source of stress.
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)
RED-S happens when an athlete doesn’t take in enough energy to meet the demands of training and daily life. It can affect bone health, hormones, mood, immunity, and performance, in athletes of any gender. Coaches and parents should know the signs, and athletes who are concerned should speak with a doctor or sport dietitian.
Eating disorders
Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. Talking to someone about disordered eating can be hard; these organizations can help.
- National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC): information, a national resource list, and a conversation guide. Visit nedic.ca.
- Athletes Embodied: evidence-based guidelines and resources on body image in sport, with a focus on girls aged 11 to 16, from NEDIC, Western University, and the University of Toronto. Visit athletesembodied.ca.
Eating Disorder Awareness Week runs every year from February 1 to 7.