DESTIGMATIZING
MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES
AND INCREASING ACCESS
TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE FOR
CURRENT AND FORMER STUDENT-ATHLETES.

  • Sack the Stigma made mental health awareness proximate to us not just through good looking gear, but by educating us on mental health. It was a conversation that was had in locker rooms and then as athletes when we wore the apparel around we let others know about the cause of Sack the stigma. I learned from the campaign the importance of mental health and mindfulness and how it can improve our performance.

    Olu Oluwatimi

    Center, Seattle Seahawks

  • Student athletes want to support normalizing mental health, having outlets such as Sack the Stigma merchandise allows them to show support. The athletes proudly, and frequently wear this merchandise because it improves their confidence and ownership in their own mental health and well-being, as well as supporting teammates who may be silently struggling. 

    Charlotte Warren, LCSW

    Anchor Premier Therapy LLC

  • Sack the Stigma is an incredible campaign that is really visible to athletes, especially within the University of Michigan Athletics community. People look and see their favorite athletes wearing Sack the Stigma gear, whether in photoshoots, practices, or in competitions, and are exposed to the importance of mental health. By seeing someone you look up to engage in the mental health conversation, it really opens the door.

    Natalie Wojcik, MSW Candidate

    Michigan Gymnastics

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  • From Sports Skills to Life Skills: How Athletics Prepare For the Future

    From Sports Skills to Life Skills: How Athletic...

    Brooke Woodrum

    Jeff Lee-Heidenreich, born and raised in Palo Alto, California, was always immersed in sports. He grew up playing many sports, but basketball was mostly the focus. After realizing that basketball...

    From Sports Skills to Life Skills: How Athletic...

    Brooke Woodrum

    Jeff Lee-Heidenreich, born and raised in Palo Alto, California, was always immersed in sports. He grew up playing many sports, but basketball was mostly the focus. After realizing that basketball...

  • Practice Like You Play

    Practice Like You Play

    Brooke Woodrum

    Caleb Holifield was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, and raised there until the age of fourteen, alongside two older brothers. Holifield came from a family of athletes–one brother played basketball collegiately...

    Practice Like You Play

    Brooke Woodrum

    Caleb Holifield was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, and raised there until the age of fourteen, alongside two older brothers. Holifield came from a family of athletes–one brother played basketball collegiately...

  • When We Go One, We Go All

    When We Go One, We Go All

    Brooke Woodrum

    Laila Phelia, third-year guard on the University of Michigan Women’s Basketball Team, has been surrounded by basketball all her life. Phelia grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio with two older brothers...

    When We Go One, We Go All

    Brooke Woodrum

    Laila Phelia, third-year guard on the University of Michigan Women’s Basketball Team, has been surrounded by basketball all her life. Phelia grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio with two older brothers...

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