Bringing pro athletes into schools to start real conversations about student mental health.
Students Are Fighting Silent Battles
Anxiety, depression, and isolation are at all-time highs. Most students suffer in silence and never reach out for help.
60%
Of teenagers experience mental health challenges
With anxiety affecting 16.1% and depression 8.4% of students - rates at historic highs.
40%
Have considered leaving school due to stress
Emotional distress is forcing students to contemplate withdrawing from education altogether.
1 in 5
Children face probable mental disorder
The silence is deafening: most suffer alone and never reach out to parents, teachers, or counselors.
“That was the first time
I ever told someone I was struggling.”
— 8th grader in Detroit
When Stars Share Their Scars, Students Open Up
Traditional speakers often struggle to connect with today's youth. But when a professional athlete—someone students admire—vulnerably shares their mental health journey, walls come down.
Students Look Up to Athletes
Studies show students look up to athletes even more than parents or educators—making them powerful messengers for mental health.
Real Stories, Real Connection
Our athletes share authentic stories of adversity, pressure, identity, and resilience that resonate deeply with students.
Trained & Certified
Every BTG athlete is trained in QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) and More Than Sad protocols for student safety.
They Break the Ice
When a pro-athlete vulnerably shares their struggles, it gives students permission to open up about their own.
How One Assembly Changes Everything
From athlete arrival to counselor follow-up—every step is designed to create connection and identify students who need immediate support.
Athlete Arrival
The pro athlete arrives 30 minutes early to meet with faculty and staff, learning about school values and any specific messages to reinforce.
The Assembly
The athlete delivers a powerful, transformative speech on mental health—sharing real stories of adversity, pressure, and resilience relevant to today's youth.
Heart Card Process
Students voluntarily fill out Heart Cards to share how they're feeling. The athlete reassures them: concerning responses will be handled with care by trusted adults.
Real-Time Review
After the assembly, the athlete meets privately with counselors to review cards. Any serious concerns are flagged for immediate, compassionate follow-up.
Ready to see this process in action?
Schedule Your AssemblyHeart Cards: Finding Students Who Need Help
Heart Cards are at the center of every BTG Impact assembly. This simple but powerful reflection process helps identify students who may be struggling—and gets them connected to support before they leave school that day.
Private Reflection
Students share how they're really feeling on a confidential card—no judgment, no pressure.
Immediate Review
Cards are reviewed by the athlete and school counselors before students leave for the day.
Crisis Identification
Concerning responses are flagged and escalated to trusted adults for compassionate follow-up.
Connection to Support
Students in need are connected with school counselors, resources, and ongoing support.
“The Heart Cards helped us identify 12 students who needed immediate support. We had no idea they were struggling.”
— Middle School Counselor
Our Speakers
Meet our certified team of pro athletes dedicated to transforming student mental health through authentic conversations and shared experiences.
Meet Our AthletesOur Students Are Our Future.
Let's Change Their Present.
Tomorrow could be too late. The students in your school need real conversations about mental health—today. Connect with us to bring a pro-athlete assembly that changes lives.