The Arizona Cardinals celebrated a milestone victory on Sunday, December 7th, not on the field but outside the stadium. Before kickoff, several national and local organizations came together to host the Cardinals’ inaugural Raise Awareness for Mental Health activation, featuring mental health advocates, sports psychiatrists, and player development personnel.
This effort was a collaboration between the Maricopa County Medical Society, the American Board of Sports and Performance Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, and the Steele Family Foundation (W.I.S.E Scholarship Program). These organizations were on a mission to bring conversations about athlete mental health out of the shadows and into the stadium.
Beyond Performance: The Human Behind the Athlete
Professional sports have traditionally celebrated toughness, especially in the National Football League (NFL), where players are often socialized to “push through” or “man up,” hiding emotional strain to maintain an image of resilience. However, this mindset continues to support harmful messaging that vulnerability is a weakness.
That perspective endangers performance and overall well-being. Research continually supports that untreated mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and trauma, ultimately impair cognitive functioning and decision-making. This, in turn, can negatively impact performance on the field.
Mental health activations are powerful tools, serving as visible and public reminders that athletes are human first. The discussions in a public forum further support that psychological well-being is the foundation of sustainable performance on the field.
Why Public Activations Matter
While mental health services do exist within most professional sporting leagues, including the NFL, many athletes still feel uncertain about utilizing those resources. Some of those barriers include stigma, accessibility, and ultimately the fear surrounding confidentiality concerns.
Public-facing activations can help disrupt the barriers by normalizing the conversation, as well as introducing other resources in the community available to support athletes. The Cardinals’ activation was held outside the stadium in the Flight Deck, strategically designed to welcome not only those with game-day access but also community members who play parallel roles in supporting mental health. The panelists’ messaging included that athlete mental health does not exist in isolation; it is supported through entire ecosystems of people.
My Cause My Cleats Initiative
The My Cause My Cleats initiative is an annual campaign in the NFL where players wear custom-designed cleats to highlight a charity or important cause during certain game days. I spoke to Isaiah Adams and Balke Gillikin on the Arizona Cardinals, who both supported mental health organizations this season.
Isaiah Adams, AZ Cardinals Offensive Lineman, chose the Jed Foundation, which helps teens and young adults with suicide prevention, because “A lot of people in my community struggle with mental health issues and I had tough times in my life mentally.” He is passionate about being a mental health advocate and noted, “I want to just find any way I can to express that this is an important issue that needs to be highlighted more.”
Blake Gillikin, AZ Cardinals punter, supported the Samuel Asbury Foundation this season. Sam was an athlete who played sports growing up, and in 2020, Sam died by suicide. Gillikin says, “college athletes that transition out of sport struggle with identity which is present in professional sports also, so I think it’s something that, especially with young men, we could shed more light on.” He talks about the challenges that NFL athletes face. “Playing a sport where it’s so stigmatized to be tough and deal with things on your own, it’s really hard to make inroads to a group that’s been portrayed that way for a long time or has been taught that during their upbringing.” Ultimately, he wants people to take away that “it’s really okay to not be okay” and encourages people to seek support when experiencing life stressors or mental health challenges and concerns.
Expanding Across the NFL and Beyond
The success of events like the Cardinals’ activation demonstrates the power of visibility. They show fans, athletes, and others that prioritizing mental health in sport is not only acceptable but necessary to support on-field performance. When organizations support events like this on game day, it also signals to their athletes that they understand and value mental health, just like they do physical health. These activations have the potential to ripple far beyond the NFL. When athletes feel safe to acknowledge their mental health needs, they become healthier, more resilient, and better competitors. That’s the real win.
If you or someone you love is contemplating suicide, seek help immediately. For help 24/7 dial 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. To find a therapist near you, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.