Hilinski’s Hope Foundation visits Lamar University athletes to talk mental health
Beaumont Enterprise
Mark and Kym Hilinski use the worst moment of their lives to help student-athletes in need across the country.
On Jan. 16, 2018, the Hilinski's son, Tyler, died by suicide in Pullman, Washington, where he was a quarterback at Washington State University. Later that year, they started the “Hilinski’s Hope Foundation," a non-profit organization with a mission to destigmatize mental illness and help educate student-athletes on the disease.
The Hilinski's visited Lamar University on Monday night, speaking to members of all the Cardinals' athletic teams at the University Theater on campus. For nearly two hours, Mark and Kym shared their emotional story with Lamar's athletes and stressed the importance of getting help if you need it.
"I wouldn't let Tyler die twice," Kym said of the reason for creating the foundation. "This is a tough talk to have and it's very emotional, but it's so important for student-athletes to know that you don't have to deal with this alone."
The Hilinski's have spoken with athletes at more than 170 colleges nationwide. Participating schools show their commitment to the cause in various ways, including online mental heath courses, social media campaigns and internal assessments of best practices with their football programs.
In addition to members of all 17 Lamar varsity teams, athletic director Jeff O'Malley was in the crowd Monday night to hear the Hilinski's story. He met with them after the event, as did multiple Cardinal athletes.
“At Lamar University, student-athlete welfare is one of our core values and mental health is a major component of that," O'Malley said. "It has become a hot topic and we want our student-athletes to know that they have resources available to them should they need help. We want to educate them so they understand there is help available.
"One of these resources is Hilinski’s Hope. The Hilinski family’s is a heartbreaking story that no parent should ever have to endure, but they have turned their pain into hope for others struggling with the disease. If this program helps just one person suffering with mental health, then it was more than worth it.”
