The Giants Community Fund is taking action to make mental health and wellness resources more accessible for their Junior Giants players and families, following the tragic loss of a 13-year-old Junior Giants participant from Lamont, Calif., who sadly passed by suicide during the offseason.

The initiative addresses the silent struggles faced by America’s youth and provides support to help them navigate challenges like anxiety and depression, bullying, school-related stress, family and relationship challenges, and other issues. To support this effort, the Giants Community Fund is set to introduce new mental health and wellness resources, age-specific conversation starters, and training as part of the Junior Giants curriculum provided to each of their 28,000-plus annual participants across 85 leagues in California, Oregon and Nevada.

Recognizing the urgent need for connection, the Giants Community Fund has stepped up to the plate as part of Major League Baseball’s partnership with Crisis Text Line to offer a lifeline for youth in need. This mental health service offers free, confidential, round-the-clock crisis support via text message in English and Spanish, ensuring that young people have access to help during their most vulnerable moments.

More than physical fitness

Youth participation in sports can play an important role in promoting mental health and overall well-being. Engaging in sports offers many benefits that extend far beyond physical fitness. Earlier this year, Dr. Shairi Turner, Crisis Text Line’s Chief Health Officer, addressed this season’s Junior Giants league organizers at the annual Junior Giants Commissioners Camp to explore how the baseball or softball diamond can become a place for emotional growth and resilience.

“There’s nothing like the look in a child’s eyes when they know they have accomplished ‘that thing,’” Turner said. “That catch. That pitch. That kick. That tackle. That strike. It’s the thing they have practiced and trained for that they didn’t actually think they could ever achieve. And in that moment, you can see this incredible mix of amazement, pride, awe and new self-confidence. And, if you look really closely, you can see a window into well-being.”

This insight reveals what Junior Giants commissioners, coaches and parents have seen firsthand: Athletics offer more than physical benefits. Sports can provide a safe space where young people develop the emotional muscles they need to face life’s challenges.

According to Turner, youth sports are proven to:

Research from Crisis Text Line adds another layer to this understanding by highlighting what young people themselves identify as critical resources for mental wellness. After analyzing thousands of anonymized crisis conversations, research pointed to six key community resources that support youth mental health: opportunities for social connection, engagement in music, visual and written arts, mental health services, exercise and sports programs, books and audiobooks, and access to outdoor spaces and nature.

But the very resources proven to support mental wellness are vanishing from American communities. Local governments cut funding for parks by more than $2.5 billion from 2010 to 2021. Opportunities for social connection and playing sports also shrank considerably during this time — even though the youth population increased. The number of children participating in clubs fell by 1.8 million, and the number playing high school sports dropped by 1.4 million. Libraries face shrinking budgets, while art classes that once channeled emotional expression continue to disappear from school schedules.

“We understand these are the things that contribute to good mental health and well-being,” Turner said. “And they’re also the things that communities are lessening at the same time.” This paradox — diminishing support systems precisely when they’re needed most — underscores why programs like Junior Giants are needed now more than ever. Through organized sports, young people access three of the six critical resources they need: social connection, exercise and outdoor spaces.

Always ask: The power of one conversation

This season, Crisis Text Line is equipping Junior Giants coaches, commissioners and ambassadors with skills to have potentially life-saving conversations through its “Always Ask” approach. The core of this training includes:

“Fundamentally, anyone can have conversations that are clear and kind, and ask someone, whether it’s a fellow coworker, a young person, a coach or a parent, if they’re struggling,” Turner said. “The data show us you’re not going to cause someone to hurt themselves or take their own life if you ask.”

Instead, asking a simple question like, “I’ve noticed you’re not yourself lately. I’m concerned. Have you had any harmful thoughts?” can be the moment when someone feels seen and not alone.

For Junior Giants coaches and commissioners, this means getting to know their players and checking in regularly, modeling vulnerability by acknowledging when they themselves are not OK, using the program’s weekly mental health moments to normalize these conversations, and following the principle “if you see something, say something.”

Major League Baseball and Crisis Text Line’s partnership is making a difference already. Since launching, more than 1,400 individuals have sought help by texting “MLB” to 741741. As sports programs like Junior Giants continue to provide that “window into well-being” for young people across our communities, this partnership reminds us that behind every uniform is a young person navigating the complexities of growing up in today’s world. By building both athletic skills and emotional resilience on the field, we’re equipping them with tools that will serve them long after the final inning.

The Giants Community Fund is also partnering with mental health advocate Drew Robinson, mental skills coach Dr. Shana Alexander, mental health coordinator Emily Payette and the San Francisco Giants Mental Health Team to provide training and visibility on the topic of mental wellness. Together, these partnerships will provide valuable resources and support to Junior Giants participants, helping them build resilience both on and off the field.

If you or someone you know is struggling, text MLB to 741741 to connect with a live, trained Crisis Text Line volunteer Crisis Counselor for free, 24/7, confidential support in English or Spanish.