Mental health and wellness are central to achieving goals on and off the field. We’re excited to share that we have teamed up with Nike to show anyone facing mental health challenges that they are not alone. Whether you’re coping with anxiety and depression or working through loneliness, there is strength in asking for help. 

We created a limited series podcast with Nike, featuring our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shairi Turner, MPH, and Global Expansion Director, Natalia Dayan, LMSW. In “No Off-Season,” Dr. Turner and Natalia will have conversations with elite athletes, such as the Minnesota Timberwolves basketball player Karl Anthony-Towns, Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, and track and field Olympian Raven Saunders. In the series, they will go deep about the mental health issues that have challenged their relationships, their identities, and their careers. These empathetic conversations will serve both the communities that need them most and the podcast-listeners everywhere.

And while we can’t shoot like KAT or flip like Laurie, we all need to follow a game plan to stay mentally and physically healthy. There is no off-season for mental health. And managing your mental health daily means practicing self-care and having a plan to get through the difficult moments. Crisis Text Line is here for you when you need support. Text STRONG to 741741 for free 24/7 support at your fingertips. 

By helping these athletes share their stories of treatment and triumph, we hope we’ll empower more people to reach out for support. To join the movement and address the mental health crisis in America, please sign up to join our community and tune in to episode 1 on Nike’s popular Trained feed, available on Apple and Spotify today!

Episode 1: Karl-Anthony Towns—Finding Purpose Through Pain

With the loss of several family members to COVID-19, including his beloved mother, and getting sick with the virus himself, NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns has been forced to examine mortality and grief in all-new ways. On this debut episode of No Off-Season, Karl joins Crisis Text Line’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shairi Turner, to discuss what he’s learned from dealing with loss, the ways he manages his own self-worth and how he hopes to enhance the mental health of his entire community.

Episode 2: Laurie Hernandez—The Path to Peace

By the time gymnast Laurie Hernandez turned 16, she’d reached the peak of her sport. But success came at a cost and her mental health suffered. In this honest and intimate conversation with Crisis Text Line’s Natalia Dayan, a licensed social worker and therapist, Laurie shares what she endured, how she found the resolve to recover and the profound therapeutic steps she has taken to heal.