Bulldogs Partner with Hilinski’s Hope for Student-Athlete Mental Health Week
Georgia Athletics
ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia Athletic Association has teamed with Hilinski's Hope for its 2023 Student-Athlete Mental Health Week, which begins Saturday, Sept. 30 and runs through Saturday, Oct. 7.
The goal of this week is to raise awareness about the mental health resources available to students and student-athletes. Among the numerous initiatives, Georgia football players will wear green ribbon decals on their helmets during next Saturday's home game against Kentucky. Student-athletes and staff of various Bulldog athletic programs will wear 'Mental Health Matters' t-shirts at events throughout the week.
"At UGA Athletics, we believe student-athletes are more than their sport, and we value all aspects of their identity," said Dr. Dylan Firsick, UGA's Assistant Athletic Director of Mental Health and Performance. "I am proud of the work our Mental Health and Performance team is doing in supporting the overall wellness of each student-athlete, both in and out of their sport. Education and awareness are critical in connecting student-athletes to mental health resources and no organization is doing more to promote athlete mental health than Hilinski's Hope. We are proud to partner with Hilinski's Hope and encourage all athletic departments to do the same for the 2023 Student Athlete Mental Health Week."
Created in memory of Tyler Hilinski, who died by suicide in 2018, Hilinski's Hope is a national organization promoting mental health support and suicide prevention for student-athletes. The University of Georgia Athletic Association is one of 154 athletic departments nationwide to promote the initiative this year.
If you or someone you love is struggling, resources and services are available through Mental Health and Performance, the University Health Center and Be Well UGA. For more information, please visit the following links: Be Well UGA or UGA Mental Health and Performance.
