Student Athlete Mental Health Week Returns with Over 240 Schools Joining Hilinski’s Hope

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 1, 2025--

Hilinski's Hope Foundation (H3H), a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded by Mark and Kym Hilinski to honor the legacy of their son Tyler, today announced that more than 170 colleges and universities and over 70 high schools and organizations will be participating in the sixth annual Student-Athlete Mental Health Week (SAMHW), the organization’s flagship event featuring collective action dedicated to addressing the mental wellbeing of student-athletes and honor those who lost their lives.

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Over 170 colleges and universities will participate in this year’s Student Athlete Mental Health Week with Hilinski’s Hope.

From October 4 to October 11, H3H will be joined by student-athletes and athletic departments across the nation in the effort of breaking down stigma, offering quality resources, and letting student athletes know their mental health is important.

“Entering year six of Student-Athlete Mental Health Week, we are so grateful to the schools who share our mission in wanting to enhance the awareness and education of mental health and wellness for student-athletes,” said Kym Hilinski. “To see how far we have reached, working with athletic departments, students, fans and parents across the country and sending materials as far as Alaska all in the name of mental health, we know that Tyler would be filled with so much pride.”

In 2018, Mark and Kym Hilinski founded Hilinski’s Hope in response to Tyler’s passing with the goal of promoting awareness and education of mental health and wellness for student-athletes. Throughout the last six years, Hilinski’s Hope has hosted over 400 Tyler Talks across the nation, reaching over 80,000 student athletes.

“Adapting to life in Alaska is not an easy feat, for both our student-athletes and our community as a whole,” remarked Brooke Larson, Assistant Director of Marketing for the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, one of the many schools partnering with H3H and hosting a Student-Athlete Mental Health Week game. “The athletics season marks the start of the long winter here in the interior, and sporting events serve as a way to pass the winter by for many. This week and game reminds us that as much as the Alaska Nanooks are here for the community, the community is also here to support our student-athletes. The Alaska Nanoooks partnership with Hilinski's Hope is an important one we hope to continue growing because we want our student-athletes to know that they are not alone, and support will always be found here in Fairbanks.”

Participating schools are encouraged to make the week their own, sharing action plans for their communities with participants across the country. H3H provides ways to participate, including a mental health PSA to be played at the SAMHW games, joining Three In The Third - holding three fingers to the sky during the first play of the third quarter of football games - and wearing one of the many “3” ribbon products or temporary tattoos sent by H3H to campus.

Along with participating in SAMHW, there are ways to support H3H’s mission year-round. Earlier this summer, Tyler’s former Cougars teammate, close friend and current musical artist, Isaac Dotson, performing professionally as Sidestreet, released a new song called "Pick Up the Phone," dedicated to Tyler’s memory. The song is available to listen HERE, with all proceeds going towards H3H.

“As Tyler’s teammate at Washington State, I’m proud to stand alongside Hilinski’s Hope to honor his legacy and strengthen student-athlete mental health,” said Dotson. “Tyler was an amazing young man who everyone on our team admired. His loss profoundly impacted us all and created a paradigm shift in my own life. Someone I once saw as a competitor in the QB room became, through tragedy, a reminder that sports are about people first. It rocked me to my core and continues to challenge me to reflect on how I approach others today.”

Another of Tyler’s teammates, Washington State legend Luke Falk, is also using his platform to further the mission of H3H. Now a mind strength & high-performance coach for athletes & coaches, Luke is preparing to release his book, The Mind Strength Playbook, this fall and portions of the proceeds will go back to H3H.

“Having lived the pressures athletes face, I’m proud to share my book, The Mind Strength Playbook—a resource to help them thrive not only on the field but also off it,” said Falk. “For this cause, I am donating proceeds from the book to support Hilinski’s Hope. I am honored to partner with Hilinski’s Hope to equip athletes with mental strength skills, contribute to their mission, and play a small part in carrying forward Tyler’s legacy.”

Outside of SAMHW, H3H has created evidence-informed mental health resources, including the Game Plan and Online Mental Health Course, which work to educate and reduce the stigma of seeking help for mental health concerns, along with providing a new way of thinking and addressing mental health. They’ve also launched the H3H Mental Health Support Series - a six lesson learning series for 9th-12th grade Alabama high school students focused on teaching mental health basics and putting mental health care on par with physical health.

Student-Athlete Mental Health Week coincides with Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 4-11, culminating on World Mental Health Day on October 10.

Hilinski's Hope would like to say a special thank you to our sponsors College Hill, Georgetown Brewing Company, Hughston Clinic, Lombardi Wines, Marco Polo Bar & Grill and TCP Mulligan for helping to make our programs and Student Athlete Mental Week possible.

To learn more, donate, and/or get involved with Hilinski's Hope Foundation please visit https://www.hilinskishope.org.

The full list of schools participating from around the country can be found HERE.

About Hilinski’s Hope:

Hilinski’s Hope is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that 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. H3H envisions a world where mental health is supported in parity with physical health and equally prioritized by universities as connected to athletic performance. To learn more about H3H please visit www.hilinskishope.org

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SOURCE: Hilinski’s Hope

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PUB: 10/01/2025 10:00 AM/DISC: 10/01/2025 10:01 AM

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