In their latest effort to invest resources, raise awareness and build a safe space for the wellness of the professional athlete community, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA), MLB Players Association (MLBPA), MLS Players Association (MLSPA) and Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) announced a collaborative campaign on Monday for May’s Mental Health Awareness Month.
 
The emotional well-being and mental challenges of athletes have often been ignored or swept under the competitive fabric of sports. By coming together in the name of mental health and wellness, these six professional sports unions are demonstrating their ongoing, unified commitment to prioritize this important issue among their players while empowering the broader community to do the same.

The month-long initiative aims to normalize mental health as a vital component to our general, physical health that touches people in all walks of life, including athletes. Through player quotes from members of the various sports unions as well as tips and resources shared by wellness experts, several themes will thread together the social media-driven campaign: mental health is a driver of performance; mental health is a team game; mental health is about recovery and resilience; and how to be a mental health advocate.
 
Along with championing inspirational stories of hope from athletes, these sports unions will also highlight the various mental-health undertakings led by them and their player members. This demonstration of shared support for mental health will not only reinforce the human side of sports but also further the push to provide both athletes and their communities with the necessary wellness resources.

“In the spirit of solidarity, the National Football League Players Association, National Basketball Players Association, National Hockey League Players’ Association, Major League Baseball Players Association, Major League Soccer Players Association and Women’s National Basketball Players Association have come together for the first time in collaboration to recognize the importance of our players’ mental health and wellness,” the six sports unions said in a joint statement. 

“‘MentalHealthisMAYnstream’ will advance the national and global conversation around mental health and wellness and relate it to the experiences of athletes at every level of competition.”