Athletes for Hope, Hilinski’s Hope, Kevin Love Fund and the Sarah Shulze Foundation Partner for Athlete Mental Health Week, February 1-9, 2025

Four nonprofit organizations seek to bring conversations about mental health to the forefront for athletes at every level

NEW YORK--()--Next week, four nonprofit organizations supporting mental health advocacy, Hilinski's Hope Foundation (H3H), Athletes for Hope (AFH), the Kevin Love Fund (KLF) and the Sarah Shulze Foundation (SSF), will host the second annual Athlete Mental Health Week (AMHW).

Athlete Mental Health Week will run February 1-9th, with the athlete-focused organizations participating in breaking down stigma, offering evidence-based resources, as well as hosting conversations and events to foster a strong community among all athletes and their greater support systems. The week will feature sessions led by clinicians in the field and elite athletes such as New York Knicks legend Allan Houston and Soloman Thomas of the New York Jets as well as licensed clinical social workers and psychiatrists such as AFH’s Chief Wellbeing Officer.

Throughout the week, AFH, H3H, KLF and SSF will provide AMHW participants a virtual toolkit with graphics, statistics, ideas for activations and the opportunity to attend five free, virtual panels and information sessions. These panels will feature representatives from each organization and will cover the importance of topic from the 7 S’s: Social justice, Substance use, Stress and trauma, Sleep and recovery, Social/Spiritual support, Suicide prevention, and Social media. Each day will include a live event, recording and resource links related to each topic, with the mission to spread awareness of the importance of athlete mental well-being.

Athlete Mental Health Week Virtual Panel Schedule:

  • Saturday, February 1: Kick-Off with AFH, H3H, SSF & KLF
  • Sunday, February 2: Social Justice
  • Monday, February 3: Substance Use
  • Tuesday, February 4: Stress and Trauma
  • Wednesday, February 5: Sleep and Recovery
  • Thursday, February 6: Social/Spiritual Support
  • Friday, February 7: Suicide Prevention
  • Saturday, February 8: Social Media
  • Sunday, February 9: AMHW Win’s and Recap

AFH, H3H, KLF and SSF will provide a virtual toolkit with graphics, statistics, and ideas for activations to all the Athlete Mental Health Week participants. As well as the opportunity to attend free, virtual and in-person AMHW panels, as well as information sessions throughout the week.

AMHW will also be activating across university and college campuses throughout the week. Schools will raise awareness and provide resources to support the mental health of athletes.

AMHW is backed by the Athlete Mental Health Alliance (AMHA), 250 athletes, organizations and mental health advocates aiming to leverage the lived experiences and amplify the voices of athletes demanding a change in the sport system, as it pertains to their mental health.

To sign up and learn more about Athlete Mental Health Week, please visit www.athletesforhope.org/athlete-mental-health-week/.

About Athletes for Hope:
Founded in 2006 by Muhammad Ali, Mia Hamm, and ten other elite athletes, AFH empowers athletes to create positive community change. AFH has educated over 12,000 athletes, connected them with underserved communities, and launched programs focused on mental health, physical health, and leadership. The Whole Being Athlete Program, launched in 2021, fights mental health stigma in sports through Education, Storytelling, and Advocacy. Events like Advocacy Day amplify awareness, while ambassadors champion mental well-being worldwide.

https://www.athletesforhope.org/

About Hilinski’s Hope:
Hilinski’s Hope is a 5013c non-profit that helps colleges and universities save lives, eliminate stigma, and scale mental wellness programs for student athletes. H3H does this by sharing Tyler’s story, connecting students with mental health resources, and assisting universities to institutionalize best practices. H3H envisions a world where mental health is supported in parity with physical health and equally prioritized by universities as connected to athletic performance. To learn more about H3H please visit www.hilinskishope.org

About The Kevin Love Fund:
When professional basketball player Kevin Love publicly shared his personal story about challenges with mental health after a public panic attack during a game, he had no idea the movement it would create. One by one, fans and other high-profile celebrities began to share their own stories of fear and struggle. Quickly, a national conversation had begun.

In 2018, Love established the Kevin Love Fund (KLF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to inspire people to live their healthiest lives by creating equity between mental and physical health. As an evidence-based organization, KLF focuses on research, education, and narrative change to break the stigma around mental health. To learn more, visit kevinlovefund.org.

About Sarah Shulze Foundation:
The Shulze Family started the Sarah Shulze Foundation, a 501(c3) nonprofit organization, after the sudden and tragic loss of Sarah to suicide in April 2022. Sarah, a member of the women’s cross country and track and field teams at University of Wisconsin, was one of seven suicides in eight weeks of college student athletes. The Shulze Family left with more questions than answers on mental health and suicide prevention created the Sarah Shulze Foundation to bring awareness to both of these things as well as student athlete advocacy. Sarah always saw herself as a power for good in her community, teams, school and family. At the SSF, it is our intention to be a power for good just as Sarah always wanted to be. To learn more, visit www.sarahshulzefoundation.org

Contacts

Media Contact:
DKC News: H3H@dkcnews.com

Contacts

Media Contact:
DKC News: H3H@dkcnews.com