By Mena Mirhom, MD, FAPA & AFH Chief Wellbeing Officer
A national conversation will often begin with a local one. Everyone wants thriving emotional and psychological health. At times, it can feel like an elusive goal to achieve this for not only us but also our loved ones, our teams, and communities. But it takes a village to heal a community.
That’s why Athlete Mental Health Week was so exceptionally special. Several organizations are coming together around the country to lead conversations, model vulnerability, and share resources. Athletes are our role models. It’s no surprise that endorsement deals are effective. A brand is trying to sell us a product that identifies the same core concept: at our core, we just want to be like our heroes. What if our heroes are also the ones telling us how to deal with our anxiety? What if our heroes also tell us that therapy is cool?
I remember a patient telling me that the only reason he came to see me was that his favorite player said that he goes to therapy.
That is the power of sport. It’s not only in the way it can galvanize us all to gather and cheer for our Team USA curling team, but to liberate us from our own fears. If my favorite Knicks player can model emotional vulnerability, then it gives me permission to do the same.
This is even more resonant with our young people. When Gabby Thomas, an Olympic legend, can explain to thousands of children across the country that mindfulness helps her stay calm at the height of Olympic competition, it resonates with young people. Every smile there says, maybe I can do it too. Maybe the circumstances around me, no matter how dire, have a chance to be different.
That’s what hope does.
That my hope hero can show me something beyond my circumstances. This week was not only the moment but also the movement we needed. It shows us that the athlete and clinician are teammates against the complete underdog of illness and trauma.
Hope heals. It has done so for the past 20 years with AFH, and it’s only getting started.