The University of Georgia Athletic Association has teamed with Hilinski’s Hope for its 2024 Student-Athlete Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from Saturday, Oct. 5 through Saturday, Oct. 12.
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 student-athletes will wear green ribbon decals on their helmets during next Saturday’s home game against Mississippi State. Student-athletes and staff of various Bulldog athletic programs will wear ‘Mental Health Matters’ t-shirts at events throughout the week.
“At UGA, our first priority is the health and well-being of our student-athletes,” said Dr. Dylan Firsick, Assistant Athletic Director of Mental Health and Performance. “By partnering with Hiliniski’s Hope and promoting Student-Athlete Mental Health Week we want our student-athletes to know their value and worth comes from who they are not what they do in their sport. Our Mental Health Matters campaign is designed to reduce stigma associated with seeking mental health support. It has become a popular initiative with our athletes over the last few years, with the t-shirts providing a unified message, your Mental Health Matters!”
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 numerous 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.
