The NFL's Approach to Mental Health

No matter who you are, it's hard to ignore the cultural relevance of football. Throughout my life, the holidays (especially Thanksgiving) always featured everyone gathered around the television watching games, betting on teams, and comparing the stats of our favorite players. It’s no secret that football reigns supreme in the United States; according to a survey conducted by Gallup, 37% of American adults said football is their favorite sport to watch and follow. As of 2021, there has been a swelling viewership of over 114.4 million who tune in for the weekly games.

This popularity has, in turn, created a pressure cooker of sorts. With so many eyes on the performance of football players at every skill level, and the critical importance of playing well, many athletes find themselves struggling to keep their mental health in check. We have seen a wave recently of players coming forward and sharing how they deal with anxiety and depression, especially amid the pandemic. In this article, we’ll be focusing on the challenges, the resources, and the state of mental health in the NFL.

The NFL has made a point to focus on the mental health of players, coaches, and their families. They’ve created several different committees and networks that create the playbook for tackling the mental health crisis. As always, behind every great mental health movement are clinical psychologists who have the know-how and can provide the dedicated one-on-one guidance needed to overcome the struggles these players face.

In this series’ intro, I touched briefly on the NFL's “Total Wellness” program; the mission statement of the organization focuses on “four primary strategies: resource provision, education, robust support systems, and strong governance.” They hope to assist not only players but the entire ecosystem that surrounds them.

Part of their strategy is to provide resources such as teams of clinical psychologists who can diagnose mental illnesses and work with players during difficult periods. They also focus on educational programs for coaches to help them uplift their players and recognize mental distress within their teams. Additionally, they created guidelines for improving interpersonal communication between teammates.

All of these initiatives are overseen by the NFLPA (the union for NFL players) and are beneficial for the players’ well-being and essential to a healthy work environment. It seems the NFL has a good grasp on what specific challenges are faced by athletes as they also have made sure to provide specialized care for players who are phasing out, navigating injuries, networking, or dealing with interpersonal issues.

At barewell we partner with the NFL Hall of Fame Health Program. A health care initiative focused on supporting players as they step off the field largely driven by the struggles some players witnessed in their teammates. Hall Of Fame Health's goal is to provide ongoing support for players and their families, as well as placement in appropriate mental and physical health programs to help them continue to live well.

Amid the great resources they provide, they also highlight a dark trend that jeopardizes the mental health movement we all are rooting for. Hall Of Fame health isn't shy about addressing the dire need for men, in this profession especially, to reject the stigma, and open up to receive support. Marcus Ray of the Oakland Raiders spoke on behalf of his fellow athletes saying “When you're a pro athlete and you get injured you play through it, so all we know is playing through the pain. So when we experience life pain we start playing through it”. The point is made that mental health is sometimes in contrast with performance, and in this way, professional athletes are massively underserved.

While effort is being made to combat the rising mental health crisis, work still needs to be done on bridging the gap from program to player. If the player doesn’t feel safe coming forward or is concerned his position will be on the line, the struggle will continue.  Changing the conversation, treating mental health struggles with the same care as physical struggles, and coaches taking a head-on approach to connect with their players are essential to creating a safe space where mental health struggles can be normalized.

Seemingly, this message of wellness began to resonate with players – many of which have gone on to speak publicly about their mental health struggles, in hopes of bringing awareness to a new generation of athletes.

Hayden Hurst, known as a tight-end for the Atlanta Falcons, and later the Cincinnati Bengals, is a powerful example of someone who struggled with anxiety and depression throughout his career. He developed yips, an acute nerve condition that affects fine motor function, and following his diagnosis he slipped into a depressive state which almost cost him his life.

He struggled with abuse issues, and ultimately attempted suicide in 2016. Despite his attempt, he went on to continue his career as well as create the Hayden Hurst Family Foundation, with a mission to spread the importance of mental health for student-athletes and military members.

Though Hurst was able to make the most of his struggles, other players were not so lucky. In March of this year, Harry Miller, an offensive lineman for Ohio State, “medically retired” after only three years on the field, citing mental health struggles as the main reason for his decision. In his first two years, he was incredibly successful on the field and off it. He was named valedictorian of his high school and maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout college while securing the second-highest ranking among offensive linemen in the country.

However, during his third year, he went to his coach to confess his intentions of ending his own life. His coach took action on his behalf but Miller still struggled post-counseling, and ultimately chose to step back from the game until he was able to manage his mental health better. In speaking about his struggles, he hopes that he will also underscore the importance of caring for yourself and seeking help when it's needed.

Miller’s story shows the darker side of fame and recognition. This is a reality for many athletes who receive endless praise but also vitriol at the hands of fans who only catch a glimpse of what they live through. There is a good deal of isolation in being “known” and it puts players, who are under constant scrutiny, in a very difficult position.

According to a study by the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 Americans struggles with a diagnosable mental illness. Athletes, though they seem larger than life, and often infinitely privileged and powerful, are still just as susceptible – if not more so – to the pitfalls of mental illness as anyone else. No matter the level of success and fame anyone attains, there can always be internal struggles that need to be addressed to feel truly happy. At BareWell, we want to ease the stigma around mental health struggles and see everyone getting the care they need to live healthy happy lives. Those overseeing mental health services at the NFL are doing the same.