Brian Dawkins Impact Foundation Expands Teen Mental Wellness Program
May 21, 2021
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month in the US, this May we're spotlighting some of the incredible organizations and individuals in our network that focus on mental health and wellness. Today, learn more about NFL Hall of Famer and Beyond Sport Ambassador, Brian Dawkins.
For years, wellness and education advocate Brian Dawkins has been using his platform to destigmatize conversations on mental health, which he terms 'Cerebral Wellness', encouraging people to ask for help when they need it and sharing the tools that have helped him. This followed his battles with depression and suicidal thoughts during his career, which was the main focus of his notable 2018 Hall of Fame induction speech. The reaction to the speech inspired him to take action on the issue and to create the Brian Dawkins Impact Foundation to support young people and communities in need.
Last year the foundation launched its first project the Brian Dawkins Values Program, to provide mental health tools and inspiration to young people and educators in Jacksonville, Florida (his hometown) via a digital course in collaboration with social impact education innovator, EVERFI. During the pandemic, 'Owning Your Cerebral Wellness' provided students in grades 8-10 with opportunities to explore their mental health and to develop concrete strategies for managing the challenges they faced, all while increasing their awareness of resources and empowering them with the knowledge, skills and language necessary to identify and support a peer in need or at risk.
“I believe that when you surround yourself with quality friends, associates and resources, they will help you and challenge you to greatness. That is why we created the Brian Dawkins Values Program and that is why we’re on a mission to expand it – to be there to help guide and assist in sparking young people’s beliefs," said Brian. "Beliefs that will change the trajectory of those willing and able to go full out and Never Quit!”
According to the 2021 State of Mental Health in America Report, throughout the pandemic, youth aged 11-17 have been more likely than any other age group to show symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety and depression. With the ongoing increase in mental illnesses among youth, this year the foundation was proud to be able to expand the program to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (where he had his legendary career with the Philadelphia Eagles) and additional schools in Jacksonville, including his own high school.
Data has highlighted the need for increased mental wellbeing support in both cities. A children’s hospital in Jacksonville has seen a 300% increase in the amount of behavioral health emergency admissions, with a 20% increase in new outpatients amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In Philadelphia, mental health challenges have risen over the past couple of years with students responding more negatively to questions about mental health and suicide. Philadelphia’s findings also highlight that multi-racial, Hispanic/Latino, and Black/African American students responded more negatively to questions about mental health and suicide than White and Asian students.
Connecting directly with students and educators is of great importance to Brian. On April 29, he and Board Member and NFL reporter, Derrick Gunn, held virtual classroom conversations with four of the particpating schools to provide an open forum for questions and to provide extra support and motivation during turbulent times. The engaging and personal discussions covered everything from the power of asking for help, to addressing mental health in Black communities to the benefits of exercise on mental health.
These sessions reinforced the message on normalizing conversations on mental health while providing the students and teachers practical ways to protect their wellbeing. “My students and I really enjoyed the event and interacting with a Hall of Famer, the caliber of Brian Dawkins! This mental wellness program is so important to helping students navigate through tough times,” said a teacher from Parkway-Northwest High School.
Lisa Markey, Senior Account Manager of Beyond Sport sister agency, thinkBeyond, which supports the foundation's efforts stated: “This is just the start of the foundation’s work. With Brian’s dedication to the mission, we’re looking forward to extending more opportunities to young people, providing them with the hope, inspiration and resources to succeed.”
The first year of the program showed extremely positive results with 71% of the program’s students now believing their own mental health and wellness is within their control. Surveys indicated that students experienced positive changes in their knowledge, attitudes and preparedness to take action after the completion of the course.
To learn more about the Brian Dawkins Impact Foundation, visit briandawkins.com/impact-foundation.