News
Coach & Athletic Director – 2019
“After reading an article last spring about Kevin Love’s battle with mental health, I realized that this could be just as prevalent in the halls of my school. I reached out to the St. Michael’s College “Hope Happens Here” group, which promotes mental health awareness. I wanted to start the conversation with my student leaders, and discuss how we can bring what St. Michael’s is doing to Mt. Mansfield Union High School and the students in Jericho, Vermont. My initial idea was to create an atmosphere where students can feel comfortable about speaking up and talking about illnesses such as depression, stress and anxiety.” – David Marlow
Commonwealth Coastal Conference – 2019
On Wednesday Jan. 16th, the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men and women’s basketball teams hosted games as part of a conference-wide initiative to raise mental health awareness. The event was in partnership with Hope Happens Here. Each team warmed up with shirts with the H3 logo in their own school’s colors. There was tables at the game with materials intended to help educate people on mental health and the stigma that surrounds it. The PA announcers also shared information and facts regarding mental health throughout the game.
Comcast Newsmakers – 2018
Saint Michael’s College men’s ice hockey senior Patrick Doherty recently spent time discussing Hope Happens Here and student-athlete mental health on Comcast Newsmakers, and the interview can now be viewed online and On Demand. Filmed at the University of Vermont, Doherty’s segment was hosted by Clemons, a long-time broadcaster whose earlier work included covering boxing and Michael Jordan’s first NBA title during his time on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” Clemons has also worked on BET and FOX Sports’ “FOX NFL Sunday” and currently covers college football on ESPN.
GlobalSports Matters – 2018
There are many student-athletes whose pain and suffering, however, cannot be seen and their condition can elude professional medical intervention that could result in a path to recovery.
The worst case served as motivation for Justin McKenzie and Danny Divis, now former Saint Michael’s (Vt.) College students and hockey players, who launched an on-campus initiative designed to help fellow student-athletes find light amid the darkness in which they may be suffering.
USA Today – 2017
“If you’re in a locker room and you’re in pain, you want to seem tough,” Divis tells USA TODAY College. “You feel like you might be shunned and looked at differently… there was a fear of being looked upon as weak,” Divis says.
There certainly seems to be a need for more awareness and support. Across the United States, approximately 31% of men and 40% of women in college reported feeling so depressed it was difficult to function in the past 12 months, according to a 2016 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment.
NCAA Champion Magazine Feature – 2017
In the April 2017 issue of the NCAA Champion’s Magazine, Hope Happens Here was highlighted in a big way, being included in an extensive look into the issues surrounding mental health and student-athletes and the movement’s role in alleviating the problem.
“When the pair returned to school in the fall of 2015, they launched Hope Happens Here, a campaign to raise awareness and reduce the negative stigma surrounding mental health issues on campus, particularly among student-athletes.”
Hockey Humanitarian Award – 2017
Hope Happens Here Co-Founders Dan Divis and Justin McKenzie were named the first ever co-recipients of the Hockey Humanitarian Award, honoring college hockey’s finest citizen in leadership and volunteerism. The Hockey Humanitarian Award is given each year to college hockey’s finest citizen — a student-athlete who makes significant contributions not only to his or her team, but also to the community-at-large through leadership in volunteerism.