A new program in Whistler aims to change the model of men’s mental-health support.
Slope Side Support Society is a new pilot therapy program launching in 2025, created by founder Krista Scott. The society is offering free group therapy for male-identifying participants aged 18-plus and merging it with skiing at Whistler Blackcomb.
Slope Side is hosting a kick-off fundraiser at RMU Whistler on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m., where community members can learn about the initiative and win raffle prizes from community sponsors.
Scott, a registered clinical counsellor, has researched mental health in ski towns since university. About a year and a half ago, she noticed her male peers were struggling and the Sea to Sky corridor had lost several people to suicide. The losses spurred further research into statistics around men’s access to mental-health services, using data from Statistics Canada and the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
“Men are three times more likely to die by suicide, and suicide was the second leading cause of death for Canadian men under 50. Included in this research was a stat I really held onto: men only make up 30 per cent of the people who utilize mental-health services,” Scott said.
While the reasons men don’t access mental-health services can vary, Scott inferred services may not meet men where they are or provide what they need.
“This is where Slope Side comes in," she said. "This is a ski-town specific service that incorporates the thing that brought many of us here in the first place: our love of snow sports. We are looking to blend this passion with therapy to hopefully capture the demographic that needs it most."
While adventure therapy does exist for other sports, Slope Side Support’s model removes the financial barrier associated with this style of therapy.
Greg McDonnell, a registered clinical counsellor, and Taylor Macdougall, a registered social worker, are the male counsellors who will facilitate discussion and be on-mountain with participants. McDonnell has 30 years of experience and specializes in trauma, family systems and individual therapy. Macdougall has worked in mental health since 2012, and currently works with Vancouver Coastal Health in Whistler and Pemberton.
The community’s response ahead of the launch shows there’s an appetite for what’s on offer. Numerous sponsors have provided raffle prizes for the upcoming meet-and-greet, and Arc’teryx Whistler is sponsoring the pilot season. The Hilton Whistler, Copper Cayuse Outfitters, 21 Steps, Ride Wraps, Scandinave Spa Whistler, Chromag, Escape Whistler, Whistler Bungee, Blackcomb Helicopters and more have stepped up to help the program get off the ground.
The new year sessions run Jan. 17, Feb. 9, March 7 and April 13. The group chose a mixture of Fridays and Sunday morning sessions because hosting in the week and on the weekend will hopefully provide flexibility for varying work schedules.
Scott knows the days and times might be a barrier for some people, and she hopes in the future there will be more time slots.
People can sign up for as many or as few sessions as they want on Slope Side’s website, and there’s no pressure to share in group therapy.
There are chairlift chat opportunities in the program, where participants can have a conversation about what’s on their mind with McDonnell or MacDougall while they’re out for the day. Scott said that approach is another way of making therapy low-barrier.
“Some people might not feel comfortable in a group. The point of chairlift chats is you get access to a therapist that you're skiing with," she said. "It feels super casual, non-intimidating, low-barrier, and in a smaller group size.”
Since it’s a pilot program, Scott said the main goal is to gauge demand and get feedback. Community members are welcome to ask questions at the meet-and-greet Dec. 12, and Scott said all feedback on the program, positive or constructive, is welcome.
