Local author Steven Seftel will speak abou t his memoir\, Shattered Ice\, in which he details his ho ckey journey in the NHL and his mission to raise awareness about men's men tal health.
\nThose interested in purchasing Shattered Ice will be a ble to do so directly from Steven at the event via cash or card.
\nI n 2018\, Steve Seftel had to rely on crutches to walk. His knees\, shoulde rs and groin were swollen and he was exhausted. However\, rest offered lit tle reprieve because he was wringing out up to five shirts nightly - drenc hed from sweat - and suffering from persistent nightmares.
\nHow did retired NHLer\, Steve Seftel get to this point? Especially since based on outward appearances\, he had everything: a solid career\, a loving family and an active lifestyle in his home of Waterloo\, Ontario. It was the cum ulative effect of years of inner tumult (which he names &ldquo\;the beast& rdquo\;) that ultimately caused his body to shut down.
\nRather iron ic for a man whose physical strength\, skill and stature combined to help make him a tremendous player at the game he has always loved - hockey. And \, Steve ascended the professional hockey ladder quickly. At 16 he was pla ying midget hockey in Kitchener and only two years later he was at the Was hington Capitals training camp. His life was the quintessential Canadian d ream and a dream come true for Steve. However\, deep down\, he struggled w ith anxiety and was plagued by irrational thoughts that often caused him t o be physically ill before and after games. Worse\, he suffered silently a nd alone. This led to a pattern of running from situations in a panic-fill ed state. First\, the NHL while still under contract at 24\, then a colleg e nursing program where he was flourishing academically and finally his su pervisory position at Toyota in Cambridge.
\nThis was the breaking p oint. Fortunately\, it was also the turning point. Steve&rsquo\;s life cha nged dramatically because he decided to approach it in a new way. He reach ed out for support subsequently leading him to treatment for his mental he alth struggles and resulting in diagnoses of generalized anxiety disorder\ , panic disorder\, and OCD. He also wrote a book. Yes\, approximately a mo nth before he went on leave from his job he began penning the story of his hockey journey. While his initial motivation was so his two grown sons wo uld know the stories from a part of his life that was a mystery to them\, writing turned into a form of therapy and then catharsis. Steve got his le gs back and used the discipline\, focus and commitment that got him to the NHL to bring his self-published memoir Shattered Ice to completion.
\nSo at 51\, Steve has stopped running. He is holistically managing his h ealth and is now a leader for mental wellness by increasing awareness and reducing the stigma about mental health and suicide. Specifically\, he is normalizing the conversation about men&rsquo\;s mental health and demonstr ating that it is never too early to talk about this important societal iss ue. And by doing so\, in a manner of speaking he has come full circle. Rem aining committed to the game he has always loved\, he is now receiving sup port through a few new pieces of equipment. Young members of the hockey te am he currently coaches in Waterloo are mentioned and photographed in Shat tered Ice and can even be seen helping proudly helping him promote his boo k on TV\, social media platforms\, and at book signings.
\nWhat does this mean for you? Steve is issuing a challenge and an invitation- especi ally to men - to join him in a renewed conversation about men&rsquo\;s men tal health\, including suicide prevention.
\nHis message is simple a nd direct: &ldquo\;You CAN confront your mental health struggles. I know b ecause I did. The first step is by asking for help. This may also be the h ardest because we - as men - have been conditioned beginning at a young ag e to think that asking for help is a sign of weakness\, when in fact it is the complete opposite. Asking for help and pulling in resources is a sign of strength. It is up to us. The time is now to think about our mental he alth in a new way. So\, will YOU join me in the conversation?&rdquo\;
\ nCost: Free
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