The inaugural Raise Awareness for Mental Health Game was held in the Branson Room at Northwest … [+]
Rudy Scott PhotoThe NFL Washington Commanders partnered with the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF) to host the Inaugural Raise Awareness for Mental Health Game on Sunday, December 1. This joint initiative marked a significant step in promoting mental health awareness within professional sports.
Ahead of the Commanders’ game against the Tennessee Titans, there was an hour-long pregame panel held in the Branson Lounge at Northwest Stadium, drawing around 100 attendees. This special event was available to season ticket holders, as well as those individuals who purchased a ticket through the APAF partnership. A portion of those ticket sales went to supporting the APAF and its initiatives.
Moderated by Kelly Mahoney from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the panel discussion included experts and advocates: Marcus Smith, NFL Veteran, Rawle Andrews Jr. Esq., Executive Director of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF), Eric Kussin, Founder of #SameHere Global, Brook Choulet, M.D., Concierge Sports & Performance Psychiatrist, and Darron Garner, PhD, clinical social worker.
The American Psychiatric Association Foundation’s (APAF) Executive Director, Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., played a big role in making this partnership a reality. “Because our international headquarters is based in Washington, D.C., our APAF team recommended trying to play a ‘home game’ with the Washington Commanders,” Andrews shared. “In our internal discussions with senior leadership, including Dr. Marketa Wills, M.D, Dr. Ramaswamy Viswanathan, M.D, and Dr. Theresa Miskimen, M.D., we recognized that systems-level change was needed to achieve lasting social change around mental wellbeing—we all saw the win-win-win for our respective organizations, our teammates, and the community.”
During the discussion, Washington legend Marcus Smith discussed his own lived experiences with mental health struggles during his time in the NFL. He talked about how much pressure was on him to perform and when he started to open up about how he was feeling, he noticed an outpouring of similar stories from his teammates. Eric Kussin also spoke about the importance of integrating mental health clinicians into team settings in a way that is normalized, just like working with a team’s physical therapist or strength coach.
The APAF’s Executive Director envisions expanded mental health initiatives within professional sports leagues in the future. Andrews proposed advancing league-wide mental health policies to include routine wellness checks and privacy controls, as well as normalizing conversations around mental health through campaigns and testimonials. “Mental health care works,” said Andrews. “It is okay to not be okay, and it also is okay to reach out to a trained health professional if help is needed.”
This is just the beginning in professional sporting leagues, like the NFL, recognizing the power of providing mental health resources to their athletes. Training the mind to be resilient and manage stress effectively in high-pressure situations is as important as physical strength training. Without exceptional mental well-being, how can athletes perform at their best? Events like the Raise Awareness for Mental Health Game pave the way for a future where mental health is treated with the same urgency and respect as physical health.
*Disclaimer: Although I participated in the pre-game panel, I have no financial interest or other role in the event or the APAF.
link