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AFH News

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

AFH Supports APA Foundation’s “Where We Play” Mental Health Event in Baton Rouge

On November 11, 2023, the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF) brought its inaugural Mental Health: Where We Play event to Baton Rouge.

The APAF is the philanthropic and educational arm of the American Psychiatric Association. The Foundation promotes awareness of mental illnesses and the effectiveness of treatment, the importance of early intervention, access to care, and the need for high-quality services and treatment through a combination of public and professional education, research, research training, grants, and awards.

The event was an extension of their ongoing Mental Health Care Works campaign that raises awareness around the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders, showcases the efficacy of seeking help, and encourages individuals to start conversations and take action.

Photo of AFH staff, AFH student-athletes, APAF members, and others who attended the 'Where We Play' event.

Athletes for Hope staff and AFH student-athletes attended the event held at The Country Club of Louisiana for a luncheon that brought together doctors, mental health professionals, coaches, and collegiate athletes to discuss and raise awareness of the unique mental health challenges experienced by athletes.

Participants spent time discussing athlete mental health topics including performance anxiety, coming back after an injury, the impact of social media, burnout, and more. The conversations were authentic and honest, showing the human side of mental health challenges that even the most accomplished athletes face.

AFH Athletes Deja Griffin of Southern soccer, Ali Newland of LSU softball, LSU beach volleyball coach Katie Dickens, and Janice Miller, mental health advocate and mother of Arlana Miller all took turns speaking on athlete-specific mental health experiences.

Deja Griffin gave details about her freshman year injury which caused her to sit out from two years of playing and how it impacted her mental health as well as her motivation to continue school. Ali Newland shared her insight on the state of youth sports and how the “pay to play” mantra has limited sport access for disadvantaged youth.

Photo of Deja Griffin (right) and Ali Newland (left).

“There has always been conversations about mental health. The difference is people willing to listen.”

Dejas Griffin, Southern Soccer

The event concluded with Louisiana State Senator Cleo Fields stating that he felt motivated to do more in the mental health space, with a goal of adding additional mental health counselors in Louisiana colleges beyond LSU.

We are proud of our student-athletes who continue to engage in difficult conversations, knowing that their lived experiences as collegiate athletes can help to shape the next generations and we are thankful to our mental health partner, APAF, for giving them a space to share their stories.

AFH News

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

What We’re Reading

November 4 – November 17, 2023

Every day, athletes all over the world are doing incredible work in their communities by giving back, creating opportunities for those less fortunate, and making connections that will last a lifetime.

There is so much good going on in the sports community! From new scholarships, baseball glove donations, men’s mental health, and more, here are five articles the AFH team has read over the past two weeks that you may have missed.

“Buffalo’s Damar Hamlin will use his foundation to award $1,000 scholarships in honor of 10 medical professionals who tended to him when he suffered a cardiac arrest on the field earlier this year.”

Read the full article on buffalobills.com.

“I’m happy to announce that I will be donating approximately 60,000 youth gloves to every elementary school in Japan,” Ohtani said. “That comes out to around 20,000 elementary schools. I’m hoping the kids can spend their days happily with a lot of energy through baseball.”

Read the full article on apnews.com.

“While spending a Wednesday evening jumping into a sandpit (the CanU kids’ favorite activity, said Reimer) or delivering hampers might seem like small gestures, both Reimer and Hutchinson-Campbell agree that the impact of CanU on the kids is immeasurable.”

Read the full article on umanitoba.com.

“Hardwick said men often suppress their emotions especially when balancing the challenges of work and family life. “For me, the healthier we are as individuals, the healthier we are going to be as dads, as workers, and as people who coach football or whatever we’re into.”

Read the full article on wishtv.com.

“Undisputed featherweight boxing world champion Alycia Baumgardner and Mayor Danny Sanchez hosted a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway for 75 local families on Nov. 9 at her alma mater, Fremont Ross High School.”

Read the full article at thenewsmessenger.com.

Mental Health Athlete Spotlight

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

Overcoming the mental battle

As an athlete, injuries are the risk you take to play the sport you love. The physical side of recovery is exhausting and physically challenging, but even more so mentally. I saw the lowest of lows when recovering from knee surgery, something no one could have prepared me for. It felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

No one seems to talk about how the little victories are the most rewarding when they deal with recovery. I was so close to calling it quits multiple times, but I was a competitor and would not let a brace and crutches stop me from chasing my dreams. I sat on the sidelines as I watched my teammates succeed. But I failed to realize that I was finding success that related to my journey, not anyone else.

I was unprepared for what to do when my mind got the best of me, and the negative thoughts came pouring in at a rate that was faster than I could control.

There was no rule book on how to handle relearning how to walk when my brain said, “Just do it, it shouldn’t be that hard.” time and time again. I was unaware of how to adjust to the new player I was when I stepped back onto the field. I was ecstatic to get back to playing, only to step on the field and want to hang up the cleats for good because I had been losing the mental fight.

I was not the player I was, and I was expecting to be when I returned because I had pushed my body so hard for nine months; that I physically felt ready. I had failed to prepare my mind. My mind was still in month four or five of recovery by the time I got the green light to play. I stepped on the field and let the mind game control me, and it showed.

As athletes, our minds go 100 miles a minute, just like their bodies. We spend more time in our heads than on the playing field. There is no excuse for not being taught how to train our minds before our bodies. I am a college athlete and still am unable to keep my mental game as sharp as my physical game. It can be exhausting, challenging, and degrading at times, but as an athlete, I know that athletics has taught me more than I could ever learn, so why give up? At what cost is it too much? Athletes deserve so much more than what they have received.

We have the tools to succeed physically, but many lack the tools to succeed mentally. The mental health of athletes is a conversation that needs to happen more often than it does. Many of us grew up playing sports for one thing, the love of the game.

The love of the game should not have to fade as we start to play at a higher competition.

The game will bring out the greatest; and sometimes the worst in each athlete. Remember when the worst comes because it will, that it does not last forever, and you are more than your sport.

To every athlete, no matter how long the days feel, how lonely the nights get, and how tired you become from the feeling of fighting an uphill battle, you are not alone, and you are loved. 

AFH News

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Athletes for Hope Announces Athlete Mental Health Alliance

WASHINGTON D.C.- Athletes for Hope (AFH) is proud to officially announce our Athlete Mental Health Alliance (AMHA), a coalition of athletes, mental health advocates, parents and partners invested in making athlete mental health a national priority.

The Athlete Mental Health Alliance (AMHA) aims to leverage the lived experiences and amplify the voices of athletes demanding a change in the sport system, as it pertains to their mental health. Through research, advocacy, and partnership we aim to facilitate a national plan supporting athlete mental health, developed with athletes, for athletes.

Our vision is to lift the ‘athlete voice’ as it leads the way in mental health solutions for elite athletes. Each of these voices combined will lead the charge in working with lawmakers to establish universal legislation that would create mental health rights for all athletes. Legislation created nationally could influence elite athlete programs as well as state and local youth mental health sports programs to create best practices and recommended training for athletes, coaches and trainers. Athletes for Hope is uniquely positioned to unite this national group with our experience in athlete advocacy and a strong network of professional, Olympic, Paralympic and student-athletes continues to grow.

“Athletes for Hope is proud to be convening this incredible group of athletes and mental health advocates who want to break down barriers to create change for athletes at all levels. Athlete mental health impacts millions of young people involved in sports of all ages and abilities, and our athlete network is poised to take action as advocates and community leaders.” Suzanne Potts, LMSW, MPH, Chief Wellbeing Officer at AFH. 

Members of the AMHA include individual athletes, Alston for Athletes, the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports, American Psychiatric Association Foundation, Athlete Empowerment Initiative, Bipartisan Policy Center, the Center for Healing and Justice Through Sports, Colton Underwood Legacy Foundation, Enough Suffering in Silence, The Hidden Opponent, Hilinski’s Hope, Katie’s Save, Mindz Matter, Morgan’s Message, Philadelphia Youth Sports Collective, Sara Shulze Foundation, and Tackle What’s Next.

For media inquiries, please contact: Suzanne Potts, Spotts@athletesforhope.org

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About Athletes for Hope

Founded by Muhammad Ali, Andre Agassi, Mia Hamm, and nine other elite athletes in 2006, Athletes for Hope (AFH) is a cause-neutral non-profit that educates, encourages, and empowers athletes to find their passions and use their time to positively engage with their communities. Over the past 16 years, AFH has educated more than 12,000 professional, Olympic, Paralympic, and collegiate athletes through its Causeway workshop series, and helped athletes volunteer with hundreds of underserved schools and impactful community organizations through core programs that focus on helping underserved children become more physically active, changing the public stigma around mental health, and brightening the lives of children in hospitals. Through their dedication and passion for doing good, AFH athletes have positively impacted the lives of millions around the world.

AFH News

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

Athletes, Mental Health & How AFH is Addressing the Stigma

Reflecting on our work in advance of World Mental Health Day Tuesday, October 10, 2023.

One in five adults experience a mental health condition at some point in their lives. For athletes, the issue of mental health is even more prevalent with around 35% of elite athletes suffering from burnout, eating disorders, and/or anxiety and depression. On the collegiate side, data suggests out of the general student population experiencing mental health challenges, 30% of them seek help, whereas out of the student-athlete population, only 10% do.1  Furthermore, suicide is the third leading cause of death among athletes.2

Performance anxiety, relentless pressure, and the emotional turmoil that can follow a career-ending injury can significantly impact an athlete’s mental well-being. These facts underscore that mental health isn’t a trivial matter; rather, it stands as a crucial element affecting an athlete’s performance and overall wellness.

As we approach World Mental Health Day on October 10, Athletes for Hope (AFH) is underlining its dedication to emphasizing the importance of mental health in both athletics and society at large. Led by our Whole Being Athlete Program and our 22 Mental Health Ambassadors, our goal is to create and strengthen a network that inspires and activates a robust community to break down existing stigmas of mental health, in and out of sports. Since the inception of the program in 2021 and the addition of our Mental Health Champions Club in 2023, we have aimed to make a significant impact through various initiatives, always focused on changing the stigma around mental health by empowering athletes of all backgrounds to advocate for systemic change.


Education: We collaborate with organizations and experts in the field to provide athletes with training, resources and support. This ensures they have access to the tools necessary to address their mental health needs – and to support others – through our Mental Health Resource Hub.

Storytelling: We believe that sharing stories and opening up conversations about mental health is an enormous part of the work to break down the stigma. We feature athlete-written mental health stories and panel discussions, giving athletes a platform to share their stories, advocate for change, and find community with each other. 

Convening: AFH works to spread awareness in communities by hosting and supporting events nationwide, including the first Athlete Mental Health Advocacy Day at the U.S. Capitol this May and by holding monthly or quarterly committee meetings with our advocates, athletes, and key stakeholders.

Advocacy: Initiatives such as the Mental Health Champions Club and the Pledge to Reach Out are using the power of sports to bring wellness, kindness, and self-care tips to our community members. We work every single day to convene athletes and organizations that work every day to strengthen athlete mental health collectively.

AFH’s commitment to mental health in athletics is not just a matter of advocacy; it’s a matter of fundamental importance. As research shows, mental well-being significantly impacts athletics performance, and by extension, it touches the lives of millions who look up to these athletes. With an estimated 55% of kids in the U.S. participating in youth sports programs, there is a remarkable number of young people looking to elite athletes as role models in how they manage their careers, community, and mental health. It is critical that youth today have access to resources and support through their mental health journeys.

This World Mental Health Day, we invite you to join us in recognizing the profound significance of mental health in athletics and beyond. Together, we can create a world where mental health is prioritized, the stigma is eliminated, and support is readily available to all. Athletes for Hope stands strong in this mission, and we invite you to stand with us.

Mental Health Athlete Spotlight

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

Boston College multi-sport athlete understands the importance of balance

Boston College multi-sport athlete Sydney Segalla may only be a sophomore, but the soccer and track star has already carved out a key role in both programs at her school. The 19-year-old committed to Boston College at the age of 15 and didn’t start running track until her senior year of high school, but her athletic ability was of no doubt to coaches. 

Sydney Segalla is photographed on the track in lane 7 as she gets set to run.

“Since I was already going to Boston College, the track coach just kind of reached out to me and was like since you’re already here, do you want to run track too?” Segalla said. 

Segalla comes from a family of athletes with a dad who played baseball at Quinnipiac University and a sister who played six years of soccer at West Virginia. The recruiting and training process for her and her two little sisters had been made easier because of the family’s experience, but two Division I sports at once is no easy task. 

Segalla has switched between positions on the soccer field and events in track, filling holes left by graduating players or injured teammates. As a freshman, she even helped break the program record in the 4×400-meter relay. 

“I remember as we went to Louisville for ACC indoors for track,” she said. “I flew back a day earlier than everyone and played in the game versus Northeastern for soccer the next day.”

It is this dedication that has allowed Segalla to perform at such a high level. She stays conditioned year-round and continues to make technical strides in each of her sports. The physical attributes are prevalent, but the mental aspect is the most difficult part. 

Boston College soccer player Sydney Segalla photographed juggling a soccer ball during a match.

To combat the pressures of high performance and a busy schedule. Segalla’s secret to success is so simple yet oftentimes overlooked- sleep. She has felt mentally drained during the season, but a consistent sleep schedule goes a long way in keeping her healthy and happy. 

“We have a lot of sports psychologists that like they’ve even reached out to me because they were like, ‘We know you have a lot going on if you really wanna chat,’” she added. 

Her journey has by no means been a solo battle either. Her coaches and advisors are constantly supporting Segalla to be the best athlete and person she can be while remaining mindful of her mental health. 

“[My soccer coach] was always open to me running track if he knew there was a possibility of me being successful,” she said. 

Sydney Segalla photographed with teammates Cleary and Krawczyk at the ACC Championships.

When she isn’t around her teammates, Segalla finds herself trying to relax and take her mind off of sports. She is constantly in practice and working out, so it can almost be a breath of fresh air away from the field or track. 

That being said, she knows she loves the competition and the idea of improving herself day in and day out. 

“I feel like I just kept running myself to the ground when I didn’t need to,” she said.”People understand you need a break. Don’t be afraid. I ask my coaches sometimes ‘Hey guys, I need to take the day off’ and people understand that.”

Athletics is more than just physical ability, and Sydney Segalla knows that in order to break more program milestones she is going to need to be aware of how she is feeling. Peak performance is not about burning yourself out, but consistently making sure you can maintain the level of activity you strive for. 

Segalla does just that.