The University of Georgia’s football program is one of 123 college teams participating in the first annual College Football Mental Health week in partnership with Hilinski’s Hope.
The organization was founded as a suicide awareness and prevention organization by Kym and Mark Hilinksi, whose son, Tyler, died via suicide in 2018 as a student athlete at Washington State.
I lost my oldest friend, with whom I grew up playing sports, via suicide when we were 21. I had attempted suicide a few weeks prior to his passing. His words ”give me a hug for being alive” after I told him I tried to end my own life are tattooed on my right bicep.