Hilinski’s Hope: Fighting for the Mental Health of Student-athletes

The Foundation

Hilinski’s Hope Foundation is a non-profit organization formed to promote awareness and education of mental health and wellness for student athletes. The Foundation’s mission is to educate, advocate, and eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness, while funding programs that provide student-athletes with the tools and resources that support their mental health and wellness.

The Hilinski’s Hope Foundation (H3H) was founded in 2018 by Mark and Kym Hilinski to honor the life of their son Tyler. H3H 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.

Meet Tyler

Tyler was one of the three Hilinski boys, all of whom fell in love with football early.  They were teammates, brothers, and best friends.

Tyler enrolled at Upland High School and won the starting job as their quarterback. Tyler’s junior and senior seasons were record setting and as fun as it could ever be - it was pure joy to see him excel at his craft. Many awards followed. A two-time All CIF selection at quarterback, All Baseline league offensive MVP and for the county, all state Quarterback as selected by Cal Hi Sports among them.  Working closely with his coaches and mentors, Tyler began his habit of watching and breaking down film. This would continue to be a strength he would develop highly at the next level.

What is more fun to remember is Tyler as our “Superman”. He simply refused to quit trying to charge, lead, and win for his team - even to the point of scrambling for what seemed like hours letting his line and receivers adjust while Tyler found the best option down the field.

Tyler at WSU

Coach Ken Wilson at WSU recruited Tyler during his Junior year. Ty spent many hours on the phone talking to WSU Head Coach Mike Leach. They really hit it off and soon after Tyler committed to WSU over Cal and others. He was on his way…

Many describe Tyler as the happiest person in any room and on any field.  He always had a smile on his face and kind words for his friends and teammates.  Tyler threw his first touchdown at WSU as a red-shirt sophomore in the Arizona game, a 71-yard bomb to River Cracraft. But, perhaps Tyler will best be remembered for his play in the Boise State game. Ty was put into the game in the 4th quarter with less than 10 minutes to play and WSU was down 31-10.  Three overtimes later, Tyler threw the game winning touchdown to Jamal Morrow. WSU fans rushed the field and the WSU players hoisted Tyler on their shoulders. From that moment on, Ty became known as the “Comeback Kid”.

Just a few months later Tyler died by suicide on January 16, 2018.  Tyler never showed any signs of depression or struggle. On the day he passed he went to football practice at 7am but failed to show up for the team’s afternoon weightlifting session.

Tyler was a good and kind son, brother, friend, and teammate. For years, he wore a wrist band that said, “Gehrig’s Grit, Never Quit” (his maternal grandmother passed away from ALS when he was 10). He gave the ALS wristband out to many friends and teammates. Ty was also wearing his Superman bracelet his Mom, Kym, had just given him 3 weeks before on Christmas.  

Although Tyler always believed in happy endings and that good was around every corner, Tyler simply couldn’t endure the pain he must have been suffering. He passed away wearing that Gehrig’s Grit wrist band. We are so lucky to have shared 21 awesome years with Tyler.

Please remember Tyler with love and do three good things every day.

Takeaways:

Some of the specific takeaways from our conversation:

1. Get help. This is the bottom line.  If there is even a question as to whether or not something is going on inside you and you don’t understand, just go talk to somebody.  You heard Tyler’s father say, “if Tyler had just spoken to somebody..”  The stigma of asking for help is going down, largely in part to Hilinski’s Hope.  Let’s keep it going that way.
2. Also, let’s all look for signs in others.  We may see some that make a difference and we may see some that turn out to be nothing.  And sometimes there may not be any to find.  But it NEVER hurts to speak up and see what’s there if you see somebody you know who may seem a bit off track.
3. Seeing mental illness as a disease.  One of Mark and Kym’s messages is that we need to start treating this like any other type of diagnosis by getting the help we need and helping others get the help they need.  Mark pointed out how we rally around others with various types of illnesses, and we need to start doing the same for those struggling with mental health instead of treating it like we need to sweep it under the rug. 
4. Some answers will never come. This is frustrating, but it is still part of the mystery of mental health today.  So, that leaves a void, and we have to be careful how we fill it – because, as you heard, it’s often a go-to or automatic feeling to feel guilty.  We have to be on guard not to go there just because something happened.  
5. Tyler as an example of Winning with Class.  As you heard from Mark and Kym, after leading Washington State to an incredible comeback triple overtime win against Boise State, Tyler was carried off the field.  Did he enjoy it – yes.  Did he also want to be put down quickly – yes.  Tyler was about the team and didn’t want the individual attention.  And, on his walk away from the stadium with his Mom, he simply asked her “Did that just happen?”  Tyler was a clear warrior who simply willed his team to win who then followed it up with a very humble conversation with his mom. 
6. Hilinski’s Hope – As that example of winning with class from Tyler showed, Mark and Kym provided a strong foundation for their kids.  Now, through Hilinski’s Hope, they’re helping others build their foundations by understanding mental health.  We need to follow their lead and continue to learn all we can about this disease as a part of the building of our own internal foundations. 

Please follow Hilinski's Hope:

Links:

Hilinski's Hope Website

Hilinski's Hope Instagram

Hilinski's Hope X

UNIT3D Podcast - with its NEW host - RYAN Hilinski!

ESPN's E60 Sports Emmy award-winning "Hilinski's Hope: One Family's Football Story" documentary