Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award
We hope this finds all of you healthy and happy as you navigate these unprecedented times of the past few months. As Ryan explains, "happiness is waking up to see the sunrise and smile". We look for the sunrise, smile, laugh, and find purpose in each day as we work to help others through Hilinski's Hope.
June was an eventful month for Hilinski's Hope with the launch of College Football Mental Health Day and receiving the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award. We are very grateful for the recognition as that means together, along with your support, we are making a difference and changing the way mental health is viewed and treated. We want you to know that you are part of the ESPY ENSPIRE achievement too, and we couldn't have done all the powerful and needed work without you. Thank you for walking this path with us.
June brought sadness too as we learned of the suicide of a ten-year-old little girl, a father, grandfather, and a young woman. Many share their stories with us following the loss of a loved one as they try to search for answers. We wish we had them, we don't, but, we do have hope that one day these tragic stories will lighten.
We joined two virtual mental health forums in June, the A-10 Conference's "Stronger Together", and "Str3ngth In Stories" presented by D1on1 and Dam Worth It. Both sessions focused on the mental health and wellness of student athletes. It's inspiring to be a part of people coming together to help and support one another.
Mark travelled for the first time since March to speak with the Elite 11 Quarterbacks in Nashville, TN. Coaches Brian Stumpf, Yogi Roth, Jordan Palmer, and Trent Dilfer along with all the other coaches and staff were very kind to invite us to speak to these amazing young athletes and future community leaders.
Twenty of the best high school QB's from across the country are selected and invited to further improve their skills with the best coaches in the business. As always, Elite 11 goes much deeper into the mental side of the position, and teaches these elite athletes prepare for life at the next level. Getting to share Tyler's story with them was an honor, and we were very grateful to meet with a great group of people to continue our work in supporting the mental health and wellness of our student athletes.
July is Minority Mental Health Month. Despite advances in health equity, disparities in mental health care persist. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reports that racial and ethnic minority groups in the U.S. are less likely to have access to mental health services, less likely to use community mental health services, more likely to use emergency departments, and more likely to receive lower quality care. Poor mental health care access and quality contribute to poor mental health outcomes, including suicide, among racial and ethnic minority populations.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
In 2017, 41.5% of youth ages 12-17 received care for a major depressive episode, but only 35.1% of black youth and 32.7% of Hispanic youth received treatment for their condition.
Asian American adults were less likely to use mental health services than any other racial/ethnic group.
In 2017, 13.3% of youth ages 12-17 had at least one depressive episode, but that number was higher among American Indian and Alaska Native youth at 16.3% and among Hispanic youth at 13.8%.
In 2017, 18.9% of adults (46.6 million people) had a mental illness. That rate was higher among people of two or more races at 28.6%, non-Hispanic whites at 20.4% and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders at 19.4%.
As we observe Minority Mental Health Month, we encourage you to educate yourselves, be willing to have difficult conversations on these disparities, and support those in need in your community.
As you celebrate the 4th of July with family and friends, which falls on a Saturday, please continue our "Say it Saturday" tradition and reach out to 3 people to let them know you care and how much they matter.
With love and hope,
Mark and Kym
