The National Football League’s NFL Total Wellness is a comprehensive program for current and retired players and their families that includes a confidential mental health service, NFL Life Line.
This consultation service run by Link2HealthSolutions, who administers the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, will inform players and family members about the signs of crisis, symptoms of common mental health problems, as well as where to get help.
AFSP is partnering with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to include its anonymous, online self-check quiz as part of this initiative with the NFL. The program will help crisis counselors identify at-risk individuals and encourage them to seek help.
Other experts in suicide prevention and substance abuse—including representatives from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the Education Development Center, and the Jed Foundation—are participating with the NFL on this program.
“AFSP applauds the NFL for taking the necessary steps to address the mental health needs of its players and provide support for those in crisis,” AFSP Executive Director Robert Gebbia said. “We look to forward to working with those involved in this partnership to ensure the health and well-being of those in the NFL community.”
Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, who served on the AFSP board of directors and is now a mental health advisor to the NFL, helped launch this program after conducting 14 mental health forums for retired players and their families.
The NFL Total Wellness program will help empower players to make positive health decisions; promote support-seeking behaviors in connection with behavioral and mental health issues; and provide health and safety education for players and all members of their support network, including spouses, parents, and children. For more information, click here.
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