Mental Health Needs a New Approach.

Today on Veterans Day, we honor the brave, the selfless, the ones who’ve carried so much (literally & emotionally), just to defend us.

From U.S. bases in Korea, where we (with our brother @rwalk56)stepped in after a wave of suicides to deliver education, our SameHere Scale app, and peer support tools… to partnering with the VA on mental health programs stateside… we work hand-in-hand with veterans and active-duty service members worldwide. We will continue to, because these warriors deserve our help.

The truth is sobering - here are some stats on top of the ones in the slides:
- Veterans are 72% more likely to die by suicide than civilians
- For Young Vets (18–34, & yes some come out of service that young) the suicide rate is nearly double their non-Vet peers
- 17.3% of Veterans have had suicidal thoughts in their lifetime (that’s reported, so the number is likely way higher)

These aren’t just numbers. They are brothers, sisters, parents, friends, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

We’re in a mental health crisis as a society—but Veterans face it on another level. Trauma, transition stress, isolation… the weight of service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off.

But here’s what changes everything: letting them know that - Their struggle is human. It’s expected. It’s not weakness.

Telling them: You’ve faced fire. You’ve protected us. Now let us protect - you.

Seeking help isn’t giving up—it’s fighting forward.
And we’re proud of you for it.

On this Veterans Day, let’s hold hands—civilians, veterans, active duty, families—and say:

You are not alone. Your pain is valid and even expected. Your strength is seen and just like we get help, we want you to feel comfortable getting help because you deserve it for all you’ve done for us and all you’ve sacrificed.

Veterans: We’ve got your six. Always. 🇺🇸💙

#VeteransDay #MentalHealthMatters #WeAllHaveStories #VeteranMentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #988Lifeline #HoldHandsForHeroes #ProudToServe #YouAreNotAlone #MilitaryMentalHealth #PTSDAwareness #ThankAVeteran #GlobalMentalHealth #SameHere🤙 #5in5

This is a start, but it’s not close to enough. And we should speak up.

I’ve worked at the NBA league office, and then NBA and WNBA teams, as well as NHL teams. I’ve consulted for teams in all of the major sports including soccer. There is WAY more that can and should be done, that’s not getting done. Many of the things I’ll propose here are already being done in other cause related areas - yet we lose more people under 50 to mental health related conditions than all the other ones that get this type of press - combined!

See the slides for examples. Please share as we need to get this topic out of the shadows. If not now, when?

#MentalHealthMatters #NFL #988 #SuicidePrevention #AthleteMentalHealth #WeAllStruggle #MarshawnKneeland #KyrenLacy #DougMartin #RudiJohnson #CheckOnYourPeople #GreenGame #SameHere🤙 #5in5

First. Ever. Active. Rostered. Player….in ALL of major sports to die by suicide. This needs to be a wake up call!

At just 24, Marshawn was hitting his stride in his 2nd NFL season—appearing in all 8 games, logging 12 tackles, &, in a moment of pure joy on Monday Night Football, recovering a blocked punt for his first NFL TD. Just 4 days later, tragedy.

Police, tipped off by his girlfriend’s frantic 911 call about his suicidal texts & mental health history, shifted to a desperate welfare search. At 1:31 a.m., they found his body, gone.

But Marshawn’s story isn’t just stats or headlines; it’s a tapestry of quiet strength amid shattering loss. His mother, Wendy, passed suddenly from an undisclosed illness in February 2024—just 2 months before the draft. He carried her ashes in a custom necklace, wearing it thru every snap, a tribute to the woman who fueled his fire. “She motivated me,” he’d say, her memory etched in his “Ask 4 Help” wrist tape, like Dak—a silent plea he shared w the world.

Teammates mourned a “beloved” force; WMU coach Lance Taylor remembered a bond “beyond football.” His family? “His light shone brightly... his spirit will live on in the hearts he inspired.”

Yet, media whispers when it should roar. This isn’t just a loss—it’s a seismic wake-up.

Marshawn earned over $1M this yr, with $4M guaranteed. But trauma doesn’t discriminate: a mom’s sudden goodbye, injuries piling up (ankle woes sidelined him early), the unrelenting pressure of pro ball. Layers of grief that accumulate, unseen, until they overwhelm even the strongest. “He was the one you’d least suspect.” And that? That’s the gut punch. No one is immune—not the millionaire, not the rising star fresh off a TD celebration. Not the avg Joe. No ONE.

We need care. True care. True community. Coaches like Matt Rhule ➡️, strategies to get to the source & not be “ok with ok” when we ask how people are. Not settling w the “gold standard” treatments that have NOT stemmed the tides. See the last slide for recommendation.

#marshawnkneeland RIPMarshawnKneeland #MentalHealthMatters #NFL #Cowboys #Ask4Help #TraumaAwareness #SuicidePrevention #SameHere🤙 #5in5 #CowboysNation

At 12:34 a.m., after 15 hrs & 21 mins of sheer, unyielding determination, Juan Pablo Dos Santos crossed the finish line of the 2025 NYC Marathon. The last runner to do so. A double amputee…a Venezuelan who lost his legs in a tragic accident 6 yrs ago, but never his fire. He ran- yes, ran- 26.2 miles on prosthetic legs, turning what could’ve been a story of loss into unbreakable triumph.

And the crowd stayed, roaring for him like he was the first across the line.

Juan Pablo’s journey isn’t just inspiring—it’s a reminder of what we’re all capable of when we refuse to let the odds define us. Imagine the pain, doubt, moments when every step felt impossible. Yet he pushed thru, proving that barriers aren’t walls; they’re invitations to rewrite your story.

And here’s the truth for all of us battling: no matter how heavy your mental health feels right now—the voice that whispers ‘you can’t,’ the exhaustion that makes getting out of bed a marathon itself—watching someone like Juan Pablo reminds us that progress isn’t abt speed. It’s abt showing up. It’s that tiny voice inside saying, ‘One more step.’ Bc if he can conquer that, you can conquer your next hour/next day/next goal.

You’re not alone in this race, & trust me—you’ll get there. Your goal line’s waiting, & it’s going to feel just as electric.

But zoom out, bc the NYC Marathon isn’t just abt individual grit—it’s the ultimate love letter to humanity. On that course, labels dissolve. Race, ethnicity, background, job title, ability—they don’t matter. It’s a sea of strangers from every corner of the world, locking arms (or high-fiving sweaty hands) to lift each other up.

Seeing a human push thru ignites something in all of us. It’s proof - empathy isn’t abstract; it’s the energy that carries us across our own lines.

If you’re scrolling thru this feeling stuck, let this story be your spark. You’ve got a crowd here in your corner too—even if it’s just me, cheering.

What’s one small step you’re taking today? Drop it in the comments—let’s lift each other up. 💪

#NYCMarathon #Inspiration #MentalHealthAwareness #OvercomeObstacles #Humanity #Resilience #Perseverance #SameHere🤙 #5in5

When this article came out in The Guardian a day or so ago (the one that appears on the 3rd slide ⏭️) a good # of you forwarded it to me. I then shared it in Stories, & got some heated responses condemning these companies like OpenAI.

I get it - & am on board w it - that AI & chatbot tools, if not built & managed properly (& many/most don’t seem to be at this point) can be big issues when it comes to mental health. A # of lawsuits are already in place against companies like OpenAI, bc of losses that families believe were a direct result of chatbot interactions.

All of that being said - just bc I swim in seeing these #s daily, when I saw that 1+ million was on the headline - it didn’t shock me in the least. Over a million sounds like a huge #…& it is. But, compared to the 800 million active users on ChatGPT, it’s .15%. Those #s pale in comparison to these #s from the 2nd slide, per the CDC:

- 15.3 million adults (4.6%), &
- 3.8 million HS students (22%)

report experiencing intense suicidal ideations in the US, alone, each year. Those #s & percentages literally blow the ChatGPT #s out of the water. (Even if you say Chats #s are wkly, & the CDCs are annual #s, it’s still small bc the wkly folks are not “new & unique” each week.” Even if you 10x those #s, it’s 1.5% of the user base.

Why are alarm bells not ringing all over the place (this is not just a US issue), when it comes to our societal epidemic with suicidal ideations…but yet a much smaller number is turning heads, bc it pertains to a tech?

We NEED to get these #s from the 2nd slide out there WAY wider so that there is a common understanding of just how much of an issue we are staring down right now - not just bc of AI or social media.

Please consider sharing, yes on platforms like these, but - even if to one person, by word of mouth. We have to make sure this issue gets the proper attention it deserves.

#suicideprevention #suicideawareness #aidangers #samaltman #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #SameHere🤙 #5in5

Bc I wasn’t diagnosed at a young age, when I first got into this space, I struggled to understand why so many cling to the labels that are given to us.

When the world feels chaotic - we search for a reason.

When there’s a sh00ting - we want to know “the” motive.

When there’s a loss & we hear: no foul play - we want to know “the” cause.

When there’s a war we want to know - “the” good guys & “the” bad guys.

We feel safer when things are concrete & we don’t have to search.

As I was sick during my hellish period of 2.5yrs, I followed the same path that so many are sent down when they don’t feel well - the doctors were trying to find “the” label, that explained all my symptoms & why I felt so awful.

For others who struggled, who I spoke w - they found comfort in their understanding being that they had X disorder, that necessitated Y treatment. And so, I understand why that feels so neat/tidy.

And I guess my frustration in the “experts” not being able to pinpoint a label for me - “you’re treatment resistant,” - ended up becoming the greatest blessing. The reason? My identity to heal didn’t get tied into a single, or set, of labels.

Instead - challenging life experiences as a kid, it was explained to me, had made physiological & biological changes to the architecture of my nervous system & my brain/body connection. From this understanding - healing didn’t mean following “Y” protocol for “X” label. It instead meant getting to the core of what had changed IN my body, & healing those structures.

That realization opened up my eyes to the fact that our labels don’t define us. Our disorders don’t explain our pain. Instead we ALL heal when we get to the source underneath those labels/that pain.

I’ll be fighting this battle for all my life. Why? Bc simple explanations w specific regimens to follow are cleaner & make us feel safer. But…w all my being I know that true healing comes from dropping the labels, doing the inner work, finding WHO we are beneath the surface, & discovering our true selves underneath.

If you’ve come to a similar understanding, please share.

#YouAreNotYourPain #HealingJourney #Identityshift #TraumaRecovery #SameHere🤙 #5in5 #DiagNOsis

Thursday, I had the honor of Keynoting an event called the South Florida Wellness Summit & Expo. 500 school professionals, nonprofit leaders, community organizers, volunteers, therapists, & even students.

It was led by someone who’s become a good friend & is a rock star in organizing committees to produce quality programming, @bethgator.

In the keynote, it was rewarding - yes to be able to share my journey: from sports crazed kid - to sports exec, to my mental health crash, & then my rise from the abyss. But it was equally as rewarding to share the tools that I now use/we as a SameHere Global org now use arnd the world: The SameHere SCALE, & STARR (Stress & Trauma Active Release & Rewiring) Exercises or a “Gym for the Brain.”

In all other forms of health we “track” our health in a range…& then “act” when we’re out of range (weight, blood pressure, hormones, inflammation, enzymes, etc.). We even act to stay preventive to keep w/in the range throughout life. Why are we not doing the same w our mental health? With SCALE & STARR we can - we can “track” & “act” just like all other forms of health. Partnerships we’ve formed w everyone from hospitals & clinics to youth sports teams show - we can have a universal “language” in MH that we ALL understand.

We then at the summit had a breakout session for another hour that included a # of friends in this space. It was called: “From Surviving To Thriving.” Just a deep vulnerable dive into stories - where we invited audience members on stage to share - & we were able to use the Scale (off of the linear principles of Polyvagal changes to the nervous system) to show the common language that’s possible, to help us connect & find common ground, even when our stories would appear so “different.” Emotional pain hits us in similar, even linear ways…we just need to be shown how to connect thru common language w something other than disorder labels.

Excited to continue to do more w this great group & to spread these life-changing, & saving tools.

#MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #WellnessJourney #MentalHealthAdvocacy #MentalWellness #CommunityHealing
#Mindfulness #SameHere🤙 #5in5 #Keynote

🚨 NBA Shockwave: Chauncey Billups (Blazers coach), Terry Rozier (Heat guard), & Damon Jones (ex-Cavs asst) just got hit w FBI indictments in a massive illegal gambling ring—tied to poker scams & insider sports bets that rigged the game from w/in.

Over 30 arrests, including threats, extortion, & non-public info leaks. The headlines scream scandal, & yeah, it’s devastating for the league’s integrity. A league I used to work for & still care about.

But here’s where I hit pause as a mental health advocate: Scrollers are already piling on—“How could they risk millions for pocket change? So dumb!” Checking those numbers real quick. Billups? $107M in player pay & coaching gigs. Rozier? $160M+ in career earnings. Jones? At $7M from 11 NBA seasons. These aren’t broke gamblers scraping by—they were drawn to “the edge” despite having a large bankroll.

Why? And I get this won’t be the popular take…but, it’s not just “stupidity.” It’s the pull of addiction as maladaptive coping. For pros in a pressure-cooker like the NBA, gambling isn’t about $s, alone —it’s the high. That electric buzz of uncertainty, the fake control in a sport that demands perfection. It’s competition’s dark twin: the bet mirroring the buzzer-beater, the all-in echoing the championship drive. Sources close to Jones have whispered about his long battle w this exact rush, costing him fortunes before. For Rozier & Billups, it’s allegedly the same loop.

We need this nuance. So many are high achievers at diff points in their lives, get the “hit” from that accomplishment, & then don’t know where to find it, when it fades (lost playing time, retirement, no spotlight, etc.). Chastising fuels shame, & shame breeds silence. These men face real fallout: suspensions, trials, maybe prison time. Consequences? Absolutely— they’re needed. But learning? That’s where we pivot to help.

This isn’t excusing—it’s exposing. So we can catch others before the drop. What’s your take? Have been arnd high performers & you seen gambling take over someone wired like this?

#GamblingAddiction #MentalHealthInSports #NBAGamblingScandal #AddictionRecovery #BreakTheCycle #chaunceybillups #terryrozier #SameHere🤙 #5in5 #Gambling

Doug Martin, an NFL All-Pro RB, 2012 Rookie of the Year sensation who rushed for 1,454 yards as a Bucs rookie—is now gone at 36 after a mental health crisis spiraled into tragedy.

His family shared: “Privately, Doug battled mental health challenges that profoundly impacted his life.”

Reports are, in the early morning of Oct. 18: overwhelmed & disoriented, Doug fled home, entered a neighbor’s house - triggering a police response & brief struggle which led to his death, while in custody.

Yet another big-time athlete…football player…black man…lost. 3 major stories in the past week+…Doug, Rudi Johnson, Kyren Lacy.

We’re losing too many, too soon. We need to 1) change the message around mental health to one that’s more inclusive about life experience and not labels, so that more are willing to get help, proactively, and 2) we need treatments that focus on trauma’s impact on the body, and not just manage symptoms. If we don’t make those two changes, these tragic endings are going to sadly continue.

#AthleteMentalHealth #normalize #MentalHealthMatters #SuicidePrevention #NFLMentalHealth #DougMartin #RudiJohnson #KyreNLacy #blackmentalhealth #blackmensmentalhealth #SameHere🤙 #5in5 #bucs #bucaneers