Across the U.S., there are many different organizations within the mental health realm targeting its negative impact on athletics and finding ways to provide athletes and individuals with tools to overcome any potential obstacles they may be experiencing and to support their own communities.
Over the past year, and even months before I began my research related to creating my own blog INTRA, I came across a non-profit organization called “Athletes for Hope”. Athletes for Hope (AFH) was founded by Muhammad Ali, Mia Hamm, Andre, Agassi, Warrick Dunn, and 8 other high-level athletes in 2006. These individuals recognized athletes may have platforms to communicate and give back, but those individuals could be asking themselves “Where do I give back and how do I even begin?”. Therefore, they founded Athletes for Hope to “Educate, encourage, and assist athletes in their efforts to engage with the community and charitable causes, to increase public awareness of and support for those efforts, and inspire others to do the same.” It is an organization breaking barriers and aspires to continue to bring people together through causes all athletes care about.
The organization supports many different areas around their mission and vision, but mental health specifically is one of the main areas in this organization that has drastically made a difference in the lives of many athletes and communities. AFH has so many great opportunities for athletes at all stages in life to get involved and anyone passionate about mental health in athletics. AFH provides various opportunities for individuals to get involved such as becoming an AFH ambassador, the champs program, workshops, AFH University, their mental health program, and other opportunities to make a difference in communities and the lives of athletes everywhere. Between the opportunities and how AFH strives to make a difference in the mental health area of athletics, this is what drew me to this organization. So much so, that I decided I wanted to do more and be a part of AFH in any way I could.
In October 2023, I joined one of their newly formed AMHA (Athletes Mental Health Alliance) committees alongside the organization’s existing legislative, and research committee, which can be found in their mental health program. AMHA is a committee comprised of athletes of all backgrounds and all stages in life. The Athlete Mental Health Alliance “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.”
Being a part of the committee itself, it has provided me with a sense of belonging among other individuals who have experienced similar encounters with stress, anxiety, depression, and more related to pressure, performance, sport-to-life balance, and so much more. We discuss how we as individuals can make an impact no matter our background, help this organization reach more athletes, support individuals who are suffering from any kind of mental health difficulties, and ultimately end the negative stigma around mental health. AFH is constantly “Educating athletes on their potential to make a positive impact in the world, connecting them with the causes they care about & inspiring others to do the same”. No matter what point in your career you may be in, there’s always an opportunity for athletes of all backgrounds to create a positive impact, especially now.
Ultimately, being involved with an organization founded by athletes, consisting of athletes who have all encountered similar experiences to what I experienced in my career, has helped me understand I’m not alone. I may only be one person, but through my experiences and interactions with AFH, it’s made me realize one person in collaboration with many others who have equal if not more desire, and passion to end the negative stigma around mental health can accomplish anything.