Real Athletes. Real Stories.
Break stigma, spark connection, and remind every athlete they’re not alone.
When Athletes Share Their Stories Healing Begins
Storytelling is at the heart of AFH Wellbeing. By amplifying the personal mental health journeys of athletes, we help break down stigma and open honest conversations around mental health—for all ages, with a special focus on youth and young adults.
Through these powerful, real-life narratives, athletes remind us that struggling is human, asking for help is strength, and support can change everything. By sharing their voices, they inspire the next generation to prioritize mental well-being, seek care when needed, and grow up in a sports culture rooted in compassion, understanding, and hope.
Open honest conversations, inspire hope, and change how mental health is understood in sport.
Help Break the Silence in Sport
Your story matters. By sharing your mental health journey, you help break stigma, open honest conversations, and remind other athletes that they’re not alone. Your voice has the power to inspire hope, encourage help-seeking, and create a more supportive culture in sport—one story at a time.
Explore Stories Athletes Don’t Always Tell.
You’re not the only athlete who’s struggled in silence.
In Out of the Dark, co-produced by AFH with Well Beings and our partners at WETA, athletes from diverse backgrounds share honest stories of pressure, setbacks, and mental health challenges and the support that helped them move forward.
These stories are a reminder that help exists, and hope is real.
To learn more about Well Beings and their work visit their website.
A Champion’s Journey to Overcoming Anxiety
What Athletes Are Really Talking About
Hope Heroes is where sports and mental health collide. Hosted by Dr. Mena Mirhom, psychiatrist and Chief Wellbeing Officer at Athletes for Hope, this podcast dives into the real struggles and triumphs athletes face on and off the field. Through raw, insightful conversations with athletes and experts, Hope Heroes explores resilience, performance, and the power of mental wellness. Whether you’re an athlete or just passionate about growth, these stories will move you.
Athlete Voices That Break The Silence
Written by Clark Slajchert, AFH Athlete Mental Health Research Fellow, this article dives into the hidden mental battles athletes face behind the scenes and why breaking the stigma around mental health is critical. Clark shares personal experience and insight into how quiet struggles can shape an athlete’s journey and how hope, support, and honest conversations can lead to real healing and resilience.
Professional baseball player David Kubiak opens up about the struggles he faced with his mental health and the power of stepping away from the game to focus on healing. David’s story shows that taking time to care for your mind isn’t a setback — it can make you stronger and more resilient both in sport and in life. mental battles athletes face behind the scenes and why breaking the stigma around mental health is critical. Clark shares personal experience and insight into how quiet struggles can shape an athlete’s journey and how hope, support, and honest conversations can lead to real healing and resilience.
University of Texas swimmer Riley Courtney shares her courageous decision to step back from training to focus on her mental health. Riley opens up about overcoming fear of judgment, leaning on her teammates for support, and discovering that prioritizing her wellbeing ultimately made her stronger both in and out of the pool. Her story highlights the power of community, resilience, and asking for help when it matters most.
Snowboarder Casey Zeller shares his journey of confronting anxiety and how embracing vulnerability helped him reclaim his love for the sport. Casey’s story highlights the importance of mental health awareness, the strength in asking for help, and how connection and support can turn struggles into growth both on and off the slopes.
Former Missouri State soccer player Mattis Koch opens up about the emotional toll of suffering back-to-back ACL injuries and how losing his lifelong dream forced him to confront anxiety, isolation, and identity beyond sport. Mattis’s honest journey highlights that mental health struggles are real, common, and worthy of support — no matter what your goals looked like.
Keep the Conversation Going!
Want more athlete stories, conversations, and resources? Follow Athletes for Hope on social media to stay connected, discover new voices, and continue the conversation around mental health, leadership, and life beyond sport.