Former NFL Quarterback Helps Pinellas County Student Athletes Battle Mental Health

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — For high school athletes, the pressure to perform doesn’t always end when the game is over.

On Friday, several Pinellas County high school football teams came together for a different kind of huddle: one focused on mental health.

“I’ve seen it in most of former teammates, they made bad decisions in the past,” said Clearwater High School Varsity Football Linebacker, Jayeon Jackson.

Six Pinellas County high school football teams attended the second annual Mind Shift Youth Behavioral Health Summit.

It’s a chance to put the competition aside and have conversations that aren’t always easy.

“I face so many different challenges,” said B.J. Daniels, former USF standout and Super Bowl champion. “Some were seen, some were unseen, and some I was scared to talk about.”

Former USF standout and Super Bowl champion B.J. Daniels knows firsthand the pressures that come with competing at the highest level.

Now, he’s using his experiences to remind these young athletes that they don’t have to face their struggles alone.

“I want these young men to know that it’s okay to not be okay and find ways to communicate and know that there’s a locker room that I would call your community that’s around you that will always support you,” Daniels added.

The numbers show just how important that message is.

According to the Juvenile Welfare Board, one in five Pinellas County youth will experience a mental health condition during their lifetime.

So, the goal of this is to help these players build confidence, not just in their game, but in themselves.

“I’ve learned that talking to yourself isn’t a bad thing to do,” said Jekobi Brown, Senior, Clearwater High School Varsity Football. “Talking to yourself could get you out of terrible decisions and it could change your life.”

“Keep speaking positive to yourself and never give up on your dreams,” Jackson said.

Organizers hope these student athletes take what they’ve learned today back to their teammates, classrooms, and communities, helping break the stigma surrounding mental health.

Read the story as originally published at https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/former-nfl-quarterback-helps-pinellas-county-student-athletes-battle-mental-health/