In their latest effort to invest resources, raise awareness and build a safe space for the wellness of the professional athlete community, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), MLB Players Association (MLBPA), MLS Players Association (MLSPA) and Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) announced a collaborative campaign on Monday for May’s Mental Health Awareness Month.
The emotional well-being and mental challenges of athletes have often been ignored or swept under the competitive fabric of sports. By coming together in the name of mental health and wellness, these six professional sports unions are demonstrating their ongoing, unified commitment to prioritize this important issue among their player members while empowering the broader community to do the same.
The month-long initiative aims to normalize mental health as a vital component to our general, physical health that touches people in all walks of life, including athletes. Through player quotes from members of the various sports unions as well as tips and resources shared by wellness experts, several themes will thread together the social media-driven campaign: Mental health is a driver of performance; mental health is a team game; mental health is about recovery and resilience; and how to be a mental health advocate.
Along with championing inspirational stories of hope from athletes, these sports unions will also highlight the various mental health undertakings led by them and their player members. This demonstration of shared support for mental health will not only reinforce the human side of sports but also further the push to provide both athletes and their communities with the necessary wellness resources.
Follow the month-long campaign on social media through the accounts below: @NFLPA @TheNBPA @NHLPA @MLBPA @MLSPA.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
