Hilinski's Hope tackles important issues during College Football Mental Health Week
WACH Fox
2020 has been a filled year. Since March, so much has happened. There's a global pandemic, the sports world, and many other industries shut down temporarily, and some for good. Factor in nationwide protests due to racial inequality and police brutality, and you have a year that's been hard for many to endure.
All of these issues, among other things, are plaguing NCAA student-athletes. In a research study done by the NCAA, the majority of 37,000 student-athletes reported higher rates of mental distress since the pandemic began. 1 in 12 student-athletes said they feel so depressed it's been difficulty to function "constantly or most every day."
Mental health has been a topic that's been discussed, but just as much dismissed in the sports world. But in the past year, several high-profile athletes have opened up about their experiences with mental health, and that, has changed the discussion in collegiate sports.
From October 3rd through October 10th, an inaugural week-long awareness was held. College Football Mental Health Week, spearheaded by the Hilinski's Hope Foundation. Several colleges across the country, including South Carolina and Clemson, participated in "When you're struggling without something you're dreaming about, or you're thinking about, and it's overtaking your daily process, you've got to get help for that if you need it," Mark Hilinski told WACH FOX.
The Hilinski's lost their son Tyler, who was a quarterback at Washington State, to suicide in 2018. Since then, they have turned pain and loss, into passion for helping others get help for their struggles. "I think somehow you just learn to breathe through the pain," Kym Hilinski said. "Our whole process was, if our sweet son Tyler was struggling, and we had no idea and he may not have really known what he was going through, then how many other people are struggling?"
While the week is to raise awareness about mental health across the country, the fight to help others never ends.
