It’s been almost a full year since Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski died by suicide.
During that time, those he left behind have been busy. Hilinski’s parents, Mark and Kym, founded Hilinski’s Hope, a foundation dedicated to destigmatizing mental illness and boosting screening and awareness for mental health issues among student-athletes.
The Foundation got a boost on Monday when it was announced that the NCAA Sports Science Institute would partner with Hilinski’s Hope to support their work.
From AB: Focusing on Student-Athletes' Mental Health
“This Wednesday will mark one year since our beloved Tyler died by suicide. He was a bright, spirited and caring soul,” Kym and Mark said in a release. “We had no idea he was suffering. Neither did his two brothers, his family, his closest friends, teammates or coaches. To honor his life and put a spotlight on mental health among student-athletes and destigmatize mental illness, we launched Hilinski’s Hope Foundation.”
ESPN.com reports that in the foundation’s first year, it’s been able to reach the athletic departments at Washington State, Idaho, Eastern Washington and Colorado.
“The NCAA Sport Science Institute is proud to partner with Hilinski’s Hope to identify effective strategies for increasing the adoption and implementation of best practices for understanding and supporting student-athlete mental wellness at all NCAA-member institutions,” said NCAA chief medical officer Dr. Brian Hainline in a release.
To date, Hilinski’s Hope has raised roughly $300,000 to bring its work to universities around the country. Mark hopes the NCAA partnership will help to boost the foundation’s fundraising efforts, and in turn help to fund more seminars at schools around the country.
