NFL SPEAKStm






ABOUT US


OUR MISSION 

NFL Speaks' mission is to develop, recruit and maintain a highly-skilled national network of behavioral health professionals to offer a model of care that responds to the unique  mental health needs of retired professional athletes and reduces the stigma that perpetuates the silent crisis of men's mental health.


OUR FOCUS
  • NFL Speaks was formed to provide navigation of behavioral health services to help reduce the stigma of obtaining behavioral health care and remove obstacles in accessing treatment.  We have identified retired professional players as an at-risk population that can benefit from our model.  We offer a choice in the formal mental health system with a male-tailored option that responds to these men's unique needs.

  • To recruit and identify professionals who have harnessed and developed advocacy skills to empower clients so they may receive timely and comprehensive support and information regarding both health and behavioral health treatment.  

  • To foster client autonomy and identify and address barriers to receiving both NFL benefits, social security benefits and other care deemed appropriate. 


OUR VISION

We believe that, by forming our organization, we highlight the need to have football players' mental health recognized as a social issue as well as a health issue.  By partnering with a skilled workforce of professionals we offer a choice in the confusing and complex current established mental health delivery systems.  Our efforts, combined with a professional workforce, continue to further the conversation on reducing the silent crisis of men's mental health.