What We Do
How We’re Making A Difference
Community
Connecting retired athletes with mental health & wellness resources
Advocacy
Driving legislative progress for PAT accessibility in sports
Research
Funding groundbreaking studies on TBI & psychedelic-assisted therapies
Education
Educating the public & policymakers on PAT for athletes
The Problem The Mental Health Crisis Among Athletes
Professional, and Amateur athletes from all sports are suffering in silence in dealing with TBI, concussions and other serious challenges to their well-being.
- More than 35% of athletes struggle with mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression (Source: British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2019).
- Retired athletes are 2-4 times more likely to develop neurodegenerative diseases due to repeated head trauma (Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, 2017).
- Suicide rates among former athletes are significantly higher than in the general population (Source: National Institute of Mental Health, 2021).
- Up to 80% of retired athletes report difficulty transitioning to life after sports (Source: NCAA GOALS Study, 2020).
The Solution The A4Cās Mission & Impact
We Are Athletes for Care
A4C (Athletes for Care) is pioneering the movement for athlete mental health by advocating for evidence-based solutions, expanding access to innovative treatments, and driving awareness around the impact of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and post-career mental health struggles. We tell athletes stories to destigmatize innovative approaches to mental health, connect athletes with resources, fund critical research, and work alongside policymakers to push for meaningful change.
What Makes Us Different?
Athlete-Led Approach
Founded by professional athletes who have lived these challenges firsthand.
Research & Innovation
Partnering with leading scientists, medical professionals, and universities to drive groundbreaking studies on mental health and TBI.
Community & Advocacy
Uniting athletes, families, and fans to fight stigma and demand better support systems.
How Ibogaine Saved Retired NFL Player Robert Gallery’s Life
Watch the Video
Endorsements Voices for the Movement
Athletes and warriors aren't so different. We push our bodies and minds to the limit, we sacrifice for our teammates, and when our careers end, we often find ourselves struggling in ways we never expected. I've been there. Robert and I went through this journey together, and what I found on the other side changed my life. No one should have to fight that battle alone. Athletes for Care is building the kind of community where veterans and athletes can find each other, find the right resources, and find a way forward. That community is everything.
I've seen firsthand what traumatic brain injuries do to our veterans and athletes, and I've seen what's possible when we're willing to look beyond conventional approaches. Athletes for Care is leading the charge to destigmatize innovative treatments and get athletes the help they need. Their work is saving lives and changing the conversation around mental health. I'm proud to stand with them.
Football has been part of my life from the very beginning. My father, a lifelong college coach, recruited my husband to play for him in 1997, before Marcus went on to serve 13 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL. Through Marcus's journey — and our close friendship with Robert and Becca Gallery — I've seen firsthand how closely the experiences of athletes and service members can overlap, especially when it comes to traumatic brain injury and the invisible suffering that often follows. That's why organizations like Athletes for Care matter so much: they create connection, trusted support, and a meaningful pathway to healing for individuals and families who should never have to navigate this alone.
For too long, stigma and misinformation have kept life-saving treatments out of reach for the people who need them most. Athletes for Care is doing the hard work of educating the public and policymakers about psychedelic-assisted therapies — not as fringe ideas, but as evidence-based solutions backed by science. When we shine a light on what's possible, we create pathways to healing. That's what education does, and that's what A4C is building.
