We saved his life... You can help us save more!
Joseph is a baseball player who is here with us today because we reached him just in time. Joseph had been struggling with his mental health for some time, his arms were covered from scars from cutting, and he was making plans to die by suicide within the next day or two. But, when Joseph was in the audience for our ACT! Mental Health Awareness Certification at his school, he realized he could get help and didn't have to face his mental health challenges alone. We were able to connect him to professional support resources and he is now on the road to full recovery.
But there are many more "Joseph's" out there -- athletes, coaches, parents and others in sport who are struggling. With your help, we can expand our reach and continue saving lives!
Sport can change lives...
Sport has the potential to transform all of its participants. We believe that part of this transformation should include supporting the mental wellbeing of all involved so that everyone can reach their optimal mental wellness. Supporting mental wellbeing and providing interventions for mental illness takes a village.
Therefore, the US Center for Mental Health & Sport provides administrators, coaches, parents and athletes with resources they need to learn how to create a mental health supporting environment. We tap into leading edge research on mental health through partnerships with renowned research fellows and mental health organizations. We provide training so that our members can not only recognize the signs and symptoms that indicate someone may be experiencing mental health issues, but are also well-equipped to provide an environment in which all participants can thrive and appropriate support can be provided.
Unfortunately, sport is an environment where toughness is expected, fostering a strong stigma around mental health due to misconceptions that opening up about mental health issues could be admitting weakness. The truth is, WE ALL HAVE MENTAL HEALTH and that mental health lies somewhere along a continuum at any point in time. Talking about mental health is not a weakness, it shows strength in wanting to support wellness.
Together, we can SAVE LIVES that may otherwise be lost to suicide! We can also work together to bring life satisfaction and fulfillment to those who may otherwise suffer in silence with mental health challenges.
