Sens to host youth mental health night

The Ottawa Senators hockey team launched a yearly awareness night for youth mental health Wednesday, in memory of a coach's daughter who took her own life.

Daron Richardson, 14, the daughter of Senators assistant coach Luke Richardson, committed suicide last fall.

The Do it For Daron night will be held on Feb. 26 at Scotiabank Place when the Senators face the Philadelphia Flyers.

The event — supported by the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health and the Sens Foundation — aims to highlight the youth mental health issues. Fans will also be able to donate to the Daron Richardson Fund.

"At the very tragic time in November we made a decision to speak publicly about suicide, because we wanted to make a difference in people's lives," said Luke Richardson.

"What we did then we are continuing today, looking to encourage the community to have conversations about mental health and suicide," said Richardson.

The team had been helping raise awareness of mental illness before Richardson's passing.

Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson has been a spokesman for the Royal Ottawa for two years, hoping to decrease the stigma around discussing about mental health.

And the Richardson family has chosen to speak out about the issue since their daughter's passing.

"We need to change the culture on this topic and make it OK to talk about mental health," said Richardson.