Kym Hilinski, co-founder of Hilinski’s Hope Foundation, announced during an ESPN Radio 101.7 "The Team" interview that the foundation will bring its "Tyler Talk" to Albuquerque’s Pit on Monday night. The event aims to raise awareness about mental health among student-athletes.
"We thought to ourselves, if our sweet son didn't know how to reach out and ask for help, how many other student athletes are struggling with their mental health," said Hilinski. "We try to reach these student athletes to let them know that it isn't a weakness to reach out and ask for help. Mental health will hit everybody, whether they're rich, you know, whatever their race is. There's nothing better in your life to do than to maybe touch and help somebody else."
According to the podcast, Hilinski’s Hope was established by Mark and Kym Hilinski after the tragic loss of their son, Tyler, in January 2018. Tyler, a quarterback at Washington State University, died by suicide without showing any signs of mental health struggles to those around him. The Hilinskis described their family as close-knit and loving, making Tyler's death even more unexpected. This tragedy led them to create a foundation focused on breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health and teaching student-athletes that "it’s OK to not be OK."
One of the main initiatives of Hilinski’s Hope is the "Tyler Talk," where Mark and Kym share their son’s story from their perspective as grieving parents. These talks aim to initiate conversations about mental health, highlight the importance of seeking help, and reassure student-athletes that asking for support is a strength. Over seven years, they have conducted more than 300 sessions nationwide, reaching over 80,000 college athletes. Their efforts have significantly impacted schools and athletes by fostering a culture of openness regarding mental health.
Hilinski’s Hope will host one of its significant events in Albuquerque at the renowned Pit on Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. The event welcomes University of New Mexico student-athletes, coaches, administrators, high school athletes, parents, and community members from across the region. With a capacity of 16,000 people, the Pit serves as a powerful venue for spreading awareness. The Hilinskis expressed gratitude for this opportunity to reach such a large audience and hope that even if just one person or family benefits or one life is saved, their efforts will be worthwhile.
The Albuquerque event owes much to the Eaton family’s efforts following their own loss of Chris Eaton—a former Sandia High School baseball coach who died by suicide. Chris's brother Michael and father Scott connected with Mark Hilinski after sharing memories and grief in a heartfelt conversation. This bond between families directly facilitated bringing Hilinski’s Hope's mission to New Mexico. Such partnerships demonstrate how shared experiences can lead to meaningful community action while reinforcing the foundation's goal of building support networks for those affected by mental health challenges.
Editor's note: This article includes excerpts from an interview conducted on "TEAM Talk" with Joe O'Neill, Adam Diehl, and Andres Chavez."TEAM Talk" airs Monday through Friday between 4 p.m.-7 p.m. on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM.
