ATL Standard

The Atlanta Hawks teamed up with Silence the Shame Inc. (STS) May 10 to host a Youth Mental Wellness Community Outreach and Practice Effort (COPE) Clinic for Mental Health Awareness Month.

The team and the non-profit organization hosted 100 youth for a series of wellness activities to normalize mental wellness conversations and erase the stigma around mental health challenges, according to a press release.

Andrea Carter, Atlanta Hawks’ vice president of corporate social responsibility, said the team is doing all they can to tackle mental illness.

“We are proud to continue conversations surrounding mental health with Silence the Shame for the Youth Mental Wellness COPE Clinic,” Carter said in the release. “Through our ongoing collaborative efforts, we hope young people will help themselves, support others and make healthy decisions.”

Silence the Shame, Inc. is committed to reducing suicide rates among vulnerable populations along with increasing mental health literacy and access to behavioral health services, the release stated. The organization also supports positive youth development for at-risk youth.

“We are truly grateful to come together again with the Atlanta Hawks for a clinic that puts our young people’s mental health at the forefront,” said Shanti Das, STS founder and CEO, in the release. “Having allies like the Hawks help to amplify our purpose, educate the community on mental wellness and healthy coping and promote suicide prevention.”

Among wellness activities at the clinic, a jump rope and hula-hoop station, basketball free-throw station, yoga station and dance choreography with the Hawks dancers were available for participants, the release stated. Attendees could also join breakout sessions and hear advice from special guests on how to maintain wellness.

In March, the Hawks and STS announced a multi-initiative collaborative campaign dedicated to eliminating mental health stigma and reducing health disparities, according to the release.