NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois State Football has announced their partnership with the Hilinski's Hope Foundation (H3H), a non-profit organization founded by Mark and Kym Hilinski to honor the legacy of their son Tyler, former starting quarterback at Washington State University, who died by suicide in 2018.
The Redbirds will be participating in the organization's third-annual College Football Mental Health Week. Illinois State joins more than 115 colleges and universities nationwide participating in College Football Mental Health Week, which begins Saturday, October 1 and will culminate on Saturday, October 8. The week will focus on a series of mental health initiatives for the student-athletes and staff to increase the awareness of mental health in college athletics and help #BreakTheStigma because #MentalHealthMatters.
"We are incredibly honored that over 115 schools nationwide will be participating in this year's mental health week to fight stigma and increase resources on campuses," said Kym Hilinski, co-founder of Hilinski's Hope. "While conversations around mental illness can be tough and at times uncomfortable, it is absolutely critical for the well-being of our student athletes. We have spoken on dozens of campuses to help encourage these conversations and share Tyler's story. We miss Tyler every day, but we are grateful to know that what we are doing is making a difference and that he would be proud of us."
"Talking about your mental health takes guts," said Ryan Hilinski, QB of Northwestern University and Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team member. "It shows strength to be vulnerable, but that is what is needed to be real with your teammates, coaches, and family. I'm proud of my family for creating College Football Mental Health Week to help all student athletes to know that they are not alone."
To learn more about College Football Mental Health Week visit https://www.hilinskishope.org/cfb-mental-health-week. To see what the Redbirds are doing to honor College Football Mental Health Week, follow Illinois State Football on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About Hilinski's Hope (H3H):
H3H helps colleges and universities save lives, eliminate stigma, and scale mental wellness programs for student-athletes. H3H does this by sharing Tyler's story, connecting students with mental health resources, and assisting universities to institutionalize best practices. To learn more about H3H please visit www.hilinskishope.org
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