Beyond Sport, in collaboration with the Z Zurich Foundation and Zurich North America, has launched the “Head In The Game” initiative to address youth mental health in the United States, with a specific focus on youth of color, LGBTQ+ youth, and girls. The program aims to provide resources, safe spaces, and support to improve mental health outcomes for 13- to 19-year-olds. The initiative leverages the world of sports at community, collegiate, and professional levels to promote mental wellbeing and close the gap on inequities in youth mental health.
The Problem:
Many young people in the U.S. face a growing mental health crisis, worsened by the COVID pandemic and societal unrest.
A significant percentage of young people experience depression, serious mental illnesses, and inadequate access to mental healthcare.
Historically, children and adolescents from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities have had inequitable access to mental healthcare.
A high number of LGBTQ youth struggle to access mental health care.
Girls also experience persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, affecting their mental wellbeing.
How It Works:
Head In The Game adopts a systems-change approach to positively impact hundreds of thousands of youth, focusing initially on communities in California, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.
The initiative supports 43 youth nonprofits using sports to enhance mental wellbeing outcomes among teenagers.
Over 2,000 youth sports coaches across the country can enroll in training sessions to develop youth and athlete-focused mental wellbeing programs.
The #HeadInTheGame multimedia campaign offers teen-focused educational resources to promote awareness and provide a safe space for young people to discuss mental wellbeing.
The initiative will bring together key stakeholders from sports, mental wellbeing, and youth development through an interactive virtual platform, fostering collaboration and resource-sharing.
Head In The Game seeks to address the mental health challenges faced by young people, with an emphasis on reaching underserved populations and creating a supportive network of resources and opportunities.
