The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Florida Panthers are partnering with HealthPersonas to provide emotional support to full-time staff members of the franchise.

The professional ice hockey team, based in the Miami metropolitan area, announced the partnership with HealthPersonas, an emotional wellness company that provides 1:1 emotional support through a daily companion app. The pairing will utilize the app’s features, including unlimited coaching, 24/7 direct messaging support, and self-directed video and text content, enabling the HealthPersonas team of experts to support core members of the franchise by helping them identify and develop skills to navigate life’s ups and downs amidst the pandemic.

Alex Bitoun, Founder and CEO of HealthPersonas, said the move will go a long way in helping remove the “black eye” that is often associated with athletes seeking mental health treatment.

“I’m very excited about our partnership and delivering our novel approach to organizational and individual emotional health for the Florida Panthers. The NHL is well-known for featuring some of the toughest and most highly skilled athletes of any sport. Their voice goes a long way in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health,” said Bitoun.

The Panthers, who entered the NHL in 1993, are currently one of the hottest teams in the league, eyeing a Central Divison title. Following the announcement, the team noted that HealthPersonas’ utilization of KnowMe™️ technology will serve as the foundation to promoting emotional wellness for employers, healthcare systems, and various other market segments.

“We’re proud to be able to offer the HealthPersonas and KnowMe™️ technologies to our full-time Florida Panthers staff,” said Vice President of Human Relations Lane Miller. “Providing emotional wellness support tools for our staff helps them to be the best they can be and in turn allows them to serve our Panthers fans, South Florida Community and audiences to the best of their abilities.”

In an effort to support and protect the wellness of our employees, we have partnered with @healthpersonas!

They are an emotional health and happiness support company that improves the way people feel through its people, technology, and science. https://t.co/8vGO84I27A

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 23, 2021

Telehealth, or using teleconferencing, Zoom calls, or other meeting applications to evaluate and converse with patients, has been a silver lining that has emerged since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the healthcare community, telemedicine continues to make progress with patients from all age groups, as well as all walks of life.

While the expansion of telecommunications in the healthcare industry still faces hurdles, experts believe telehealth could become a standard service offered across all care settings in the post-pandemic future.