Mental health advocacy

Creating better life outcomes for others through my failures

My entire life has been shaped by severe and persistent mental illness that started as a child. I understand the frustration, anger, isolation and hopelessness it creates. I know what's it's like to be thrown away by a society that doesn't understand mental illness, and too often, doesn't really care.

Addressing societal issues like depression, addiction, homelessness, suicide, and crime starts with treating mental illness in children. 50% of lifetime mental illness starts before age 14. We also need to encourage more men to take responsibility for their mental health. That starts by admitting that they need help and can't do it alone.

I'm an advocate for the mentally ill, because I'm one of them. The odds say I shouldn’t still be standing. I should be an addict, should be the streets or in prison, should be another suicide statistic. I want to use what's left of my life to help others keep battling and create better life outcomes than I did.

Helping kids through athlete leadership

Athletes have stepped up to be among the most outspoken leaders in our society on mental health issues. Athletes have and unique opportunity to positively influence kids and make a difference in their lives. Locker Room Speakers send athletes to speak to kids at schools, youth sports organizations, juvenile detention centers, churches, and other youth organizations. Our focus in on helping kids make better life choices, be more resilient, be kinder to each other, and be willing to ask for help when they need it. Please reach out if we can help. I have great speakers all over the country and can work with any budget.

Mens mental health forum

Helping men stay in the game and become the best version of themselves

Men account for 80% of all suicides. A recent study discovered that 40% of men have never spoken to ANYONE about their mental health. What we are doing as men and for men in the area of mental health is not working. As men, we have a lot of people depending on us, and we can't be our best without doing the work required to improve our mental health.

My life is an example of how untreated mental illness will completely destroy your life and hurt everyone around you. I encourage men to get help while they still can., challenge men to take the quit option of suicide off the table, and bring men together to help each other stay in the game. My message to men is that you don't want to end up like me. Get help, no matter how embarrassing or uncomfortable it is.

I also want to encourage men and let them know that millions of others share the same struggles. I bring athletes, military veterans, and first responders on to share their stories about mental health struggles and how they overcame them.  If men like this can be vulnerable and seek help, then so can you.

Athletes have stepped up to be among the most outspoken leaders in our society on mental health issues. Athletes have and unique opportunity to positively influence kids and make a difference in their lives. Locker Room Speakers send athletes to speak to kids at schools, youth sports organizations, juvenile detention centers, churches, and other youth organizations. Our focus in on helping kids make better life choices, be more resilient, be kinder to each other, and be willing to ask for help when they need it. Please reach out if we can help. I have great speakers all over the country and can work with any budget.

Supporting youth mental health causes

Raising funds and awareness for youth mental health causes

All of my sports and athlete business ventures intersect with non-profit causes supporting kids. I personally donate time and money to numerous charities and encourage athletes to use their influence and resources to help kids. Pro Athletes Helping Kids is a coalition effort to bring the athlete community together to make a positive difference in the lives of children. Mental health causes are among the initiatives that our athletes lead on. I'm currently open to strategic partnerships with non-profits that support youth suicide prevention as well as research, awareness, and education focused on mental health issues in kids and adolescents.