2020 has been one of the most unusual years for many of us, and one of the toughest. In particular, it has been a pretty difficult year for student-athletes. They are dealing with all of the stress of being students who are adjusting to online classes while missing out on traditions and festivities. But they’re also coping with unique challenges of being athletes, which includes season cancellations, uncertainty, mass testing, and more. This is all in addition to mental health concerns being on the rise for young people even before COVID-19 hit. This weekend, Hilinski’s Hope is doing their part to address these challenges.
This weekend #3Day, on October 3rd, kicks off a full week of mental health awareness events. The week will be a collective campaign of action focused on stopping the discrimination towards mental health and increasing resources at universities and colleges across the country.
The universities and teams that are committed to participating will do so in at least one of the following ways:
- Wearing a lime green ribbon on all players helmets with a “3” in the middle to honor Tyler Hilinski and remember those lost and those suffering in silence;
- Encouraging students, parents, alumni, and fans to participate in showing solidarity, stopping discrimination around mental health by holding three fingers in the sky during the first play of the third quarter
- Participating in an internal assessment to evaluate how universities are following best practices in terms of mental health programs and including talks and trainings on campus for players, coaches, and staff.
The week will end on October 10th, which is also World Mental Health Day, and will serve as a reminder to college football players, coaches, and fans that mental health matters. For more on the Hilinskis, this week of events, and their organization, check out the InstaLive interview with our Flawless Fellow Tre! You can also read more about the Hilinskis’ and their advocacy by visiting our blog:
Hope Never Sinks
Keeping Hope Afloat Takes All of Us
Forever to Three
Mental Health in Student-Athletes: A “Must” for Peak Performance
Mental Health Organizations Help Student-Athletes Find Strength in Their Stories
