Jordan Fuller of the Los Angeles Rams Partners with RADical Hope for Student-Athlete Support
By Brett Reiner
Los Angeles Rams safety and team captain Jordan Fuller is teaming up with RADical Hope to champion mental health support for student-athletes. RADical Hope collaborates with colleges, professional sports teams, and community organizations nationwide, fully funding programs for partners to ensure universal access to vital life skills and resources, strengthening connections and building resilience in the lives of young adults.
A former Academic All-American at The Ohio State University, Fuller, selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, is set to engage with RADical Hope through campus forums and outreach initiatives to provide student-athletes with essential skills, tools, and resources to enhance resilience. Acknowledging the prevalent mental health concerns among student-athletes, as indicated by a recent National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) survey showing increased rates of mental exhaustion, anxiety, and depression, Fuller aims to address the urgency of this issue based on his own experiences.
Fuller emphasizes the importance of breaking down the reluctance among athletes to share vulnerabilities with their peers. He stresses the need to highlight mental health as a priority equivalent to physical health, recognizing that having a toolkit to manage time, stress, and relationships can be transformative.
“Athletes can be reluctant to share vulnerabilities with their peers, but not one of us is made of iron,” said Fuller. “We need to spotlight the importance of making mental health as much of a priority as physical health. Just knowing how to build your toolkit to manage time, stress, and relationships can be a game-changer.”
RADical Hope CEO Liz Feld acknowledges Fuller’s leadership on these issues, tracing it back to his days on The Ohio State campus. She emphasizes the unique challenges faced by student-athletes and the significance of hearing from individuals who have experienced similar journeys. RADical Hope’s mission is to empower young adults with resilience-building skills, aiming to equip them to cope before reaching a crisis point. Fuller’s commitment to this cause is anticipated to play a crucial role in advancing this effort.
RADical Hope’s primary program, RADical Health, was developed collaboratively by behavioral health specialists, psychologists, academic leaders, administrators, and students nationwide. Launched and piloted at New York University in the fall of 2020, the four-week program has since been scaled nationally. Peer-led under the guidance of trained mentors, RADical Health explores topics such as self-care, stress management, active listening, emotional regulation, and informed decision-making. The material has been tailored to address the unique experiences of student-athletes. The National Football League and several of its teams have provided organizational and financial support to further the RADical Hope mission.
