In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called the youth mental health issues “the defining public health crisis of our time.” Weeks later, Major League Baseball (MLB) launched their social responsibility platform, MLB Together (MLBTogether.com), which included the pillar of youth empowerment with a focus on mental health, wellness, bullying prevention, encouraging physical activity, and increasing access to baseball and softball, in addition to educational and workforce development support. 

As a key aspect of their efforts, MLB established a partnership with Crisis Text Line, a free, 24/7, confidential mental health service by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need.

“Crisis Text Line has been an incredible partner with Major League Baseball,” said April Brown, MLB Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility and Diversity. “In 2023, when we launched our mental health initiative as one of our core pillars under our social responsibility platform, we were still coming out of the tail end of the pandemic, and youth were very much suffering from anxiety and depression. Major League Baseball wants you to be kind to yourself, to be kind to others, and know it’s okay to ask for help and that those resources are there.”

As part of this partnership, anyone can text MLB to 741741 and receive in-the-moment support from a live, trained volunteer Crisis Counselor who is supervised by one of Crisis Text Line’s mental health professional staff.

“The audience that MLB reaches is so far and wide, and it includes young players, professional players, parents, children, coaches, family members, everybody who loves baseball now has the opportunity to see that Crisis Text Line is a resource, number one. And number two, players are talking about their mental health and normalizing the conversation,” said Shairi Turner, MD, MPH, Chief Health Officer at Crisis Text Line.

As part of its ongoing commitment to mental well-being, Little League® International began sharing MLB and Crisis Text Line resources with its players and families in 2024, including those competing at the highest levels of the Little League International Tournament. During 2025 Mental Health Awareness Month, Brown and Dr. Turner sat down with Little League for a special “Six Innings Conversation” to talk about some of the important mental well-being issues that Little League parents, volunteers, and families should be aware of throughout the season. 

First Inning: Why is it important for Little League families and players to focus on mental health and well-being? 

Shairi R. Turner MD, MPH (ST): Well, we know already that there’s an important connection between youth sport and youth mental health and well-being, and from our perspective, sport really helps to create a positive, supportive environment and allows young players to build confidence, resilience, teamwork skills, all those important relationship skills that they can use both on and off the field. And then, when we, as adults, help to prioritize their mental health, our young athletes are better equipped to enjoy the game, to handle the challenges, and really hopefully grow into much more well-rounded individuals.

April Brown (AB): Focusing on mental health and well-being is incredibly important for Little League families and especially for players. What’s between our ears is just as important as what we use to hit the ball. It’s a part of our full well-being. Little League gives that opportunity for youth to be able to step on the field and play the sport that we all love, so we want to make sure our whole being is taken care of and that we build not just our physical muscles, but our mental acuity and our muscles around mental wellness and health.

Second Inning: What are some of the common struggles that children playing Little League can face?

AB: From a mental well-being standpoint, we know that when we’re playing our game, you have to be incredibly resilient. When you step up to the plate, many times you’re not going to hit that ball, and that can really affect a young person, especially as you’re learning the game. You love it and you’re learning it, but maybe you’re feeling that you’re not so good at it when you’re just starting out. That’s why it’s incredibly important for us to teach those skills to support our youth as they step up to the plate and to let them know that resiliency is a part of life. Stepping up to the plate is not just on the baseball field; it’s when you step into the classroom, it’s when you step on the school bus, when you step into your circle with your friends. Being able to take care of your wellness is an important part of that. And knowing that it’s okay when you feel stressed or anxious, or on days you might feel sad, and that you have the support you need to be able to talk about it. 

ST: As a pediatrician and as the mom of two student athletes, who are now in college, I remember that critical time period between ages four and 16. They have all of the struggles that young people that age might be experiencing around stress and anxiety. But then you layer on this performance pressure, the fear of making mistakes, and the balance between school and sports activities. Sometimes these kids are leaving class early and have to make up that homework or exams. Then there is just the emotion and the management of the emotions around wins and losses. Sometimes they’re playing against friends, right? So, winning is a bit of a double-edged sword around their emotions. Then, of course, there’s oftentimes the coach and parent dynamic that exists; and sadly, bullying that happens on the playing field for these young people. These are challenges that can affect their long-term confidence and their enjoyment of the sport if they’re not supported by the adults who are around them.

Third Inning: What are some of those warning signs that parents and coaches should be on the lookout for? 

ST: Because parents and coaches are first responders in these instances, they know these children, and they should always be on the lookout for those changes in behavior. And what can that look like? That can look like a withdrawal from the team or specific teammates. It can be a loss of interest in a loved sport. It can look like a self-initiated disruption of a routine. Kids get into a school-sport routine, and then suddenly they’re not really interested in following that routine any longer. They can have changes in their mood or behavior, or start to exhibit excess frustration or self-criticism, and self-doubt. I think the key to all of this is both awareness on the part of the adults in their life and then, that support should come early. We don’t want our young people to be in a full-blown crisis if we notice that something is not right. It’s another sort of “see something, say something” moment for coaches and parents to both be open and compassionate and have those conversations. Many times, these parents and coaches were former players, so they understand those stressors and can have those important and vulnerable conversations with young people. Always remember that it’s harder to initiate those conversations as a child or a young player, and as the adult, it’s sort of incumbent on us to step forward and check in and start those important conversations. 

AB: When you see that the young person in your life has a sudden change, that all of a sudden something that they love, they don’t love anymore; or, they’re resistant now to go to practice for Little League; or they are putting up a fight to get out the house – those noticeable changes, that’s when you want to have an open conversation. You want to let them know they’re in a safe space and that anything they tell a trusted parent or adult coach is okay. And it’s okay to have these feelings, and it’s okay to feel like you might need some additional support from an adult. 

Fourth Inning: How do you feel that social media can have an impact on the mental health and well-being of Little Leaguers?

AB: Recent studies have shown that social media is an integral part of a young person’s life. At least 95% of 13- through 17-year-olds are on social media at least three hours a day. And it’s over the three-hour mark where you actually increase your risk of having anxiety. When we’re talking about young people who play sports, comparing yourself to other athletes or to other events you see on social media can be very much part of your daily routine. We want to make sure that as adults, we’re helping our youth to really decipher what they’re taking in through social media and making sure that we even put some steps in to reduce it and incorporate other great things like going outside, social interaction with others (you know, face-to-face and not just through social media), and enjoying things like the sport of baseball and softball. 

ST: We know social media is not going anywhere, and it’s up to us as adults to help create the parameters, the discernment. We know that social media can have both positive and negative impacts on mental well-being. We know that for some children, it really offers that opportunity for connection, for self-expression, and access to support for young people who might feel isolated. And again, it’s the boundaries around the platform, helping them to know how it feels when you have been on social media too long — What does your body feel like? Are you having headaches, or are you feeling anxious? Well, that means it’s time to go outside, get some fresh air. Go play with those friends who you’ve been communicating with. Research does show that teens, especially in that 13 to 17 age range, say that social media makes them feel more connected and involved in their friends’ lives. And, it’s especially true for student athletes because they spend so much time at school and then with their sport, they oftentimes miss the games and the sports of their friends. So, to be able to be a part of that, even tangentially, can create and maintain some important connections. 

Fifth Inning: What has this partnership meant to both Major League Baseball and Crisis Text Line?

ST: Our partnership is just so cherished. We so value our MLB partnership because it allows us to have an inclusive response and ability to elevate the need for mental health resources, to decrease the stigma around mental health, and to encourage more people to seek help. We’ve come so far in this partnership and truly value everything that we do with MLB. 

AB: Social isolation was the number one health cause declared by the U.S. Surgeon General in 2023, just a few weeks before we publicly launched this campaign. To have a partner like Crisis Text Line that provides a credible resource 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in English and in Spanish, was incredibly integral to us rolling out our core pillar around mental wellness, especially for youth to know that this is at their fingertips. We’re meeting them where they are. In just two years, we’ve been able to see the incredible reach through our 30 clubs and our MLB platforms, and we’ve been able to utilize the power of our sport to get this message and this resource in front of families across the country. 

Sixth Inning: How can a Little League player, family member, or volunteer take advantage of the resources that Crisis Text Line that offers with Major League Baseball, and when should they take advantage of those resources?

ST: At any time that they are feeling alone or feeling like they can’t handle what’s in front of them, they should reach out. The key is – whether it’s a player, a child, a family member, a parent, a coach, an administrator – to always remember that they’re not alone. That Crisis Text Line is a free 24/7, confidential mental health service, solely by text, available in English and in Spanish. Anyone can text MLB to 741741 and receive in-the-moment support from a live, trained volunteer crisis counselor who is supervised by one of our mental health professional staff. You can be at a game or in the classroom or at home by yourself at night, and know that there is someone out there to help you. 

It’s just invaluable because suicide can be a very impulsive act where someone feels like there’s no one here supporting them. And I would remind parents, coaches, and staff that asking a child about thoughts of death, dying, suicide, or hurting themselves is not going to cause that child to do that. There’s enough data out there to show that is not the case. But in those moments where you see a young person struggling, when you ask those questions, it’s much easier for a child to say yes than to bring those feelings to a trusted adult. And you don’t have to be a therapist to ask those questions because all you’re saying to this child, this young person, is that you’re not alone.

All they need to know is that they have Crisis Text Line on their phone, to text MLB to 741741, and someone will be there to help them work through whatever feels so insurmountable in that moment. 

AB: What’s also incredibly important for us is the fact that the Crisis Text Line has a QR code that parents and young people can scan, and then you’re able to save that information right into your contacts. If you go to MLBTogether.com, you’ll see the QR code, scan it, and save it into your contacts. We’re talking to our youth across the country all the time, but when we’re talking to them, it might not be the moment when they need the support. But when that moment comes – when they are off with friends or something happens at school and they’re on their way home – maybe they can’t get to a parent or an adult to talk it out. Now they have it right there in their contacts and can remember to utilize it. 

Major League Baseball wants you to be kind to yourself, to be kind to others, and know it’s okay to ask for help and that those resources are there. More and more, you’ll see our players stepping up and talking about their mental wellness and how they’re taking care of their mental health. Everyone is breaking down that stigma. We want our parents to know it’s okay to talk about it, and it’s okay as a parent and as an adult to need help. Crisis Text Line is also available to you. It’s not just for young people, it’s for all ages. So, at any time text MLB to 741741 and get connected. 

To learn more about the Mental Well-Being resources available for parents, volunteers, and Little Leaguers®, visit LittleLeague.org/MentalHeath.