About Kicking The Stigma

Our

Story

Kicking The Stigma started with a promise—a commitment from the Jim Irsay family to tackle the mental health crisis here in Indiana.

As owners of the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay and his daughters have seen firsthand how many Hoosiers suffer in silence. They’ve received countless messages from fans in need, including many with limited access to treatment and no idea where to start. For the Irsays, this only confirmed what they already knew: that mental health is a matter of life and death for millions.

When people are desperate enough to call a football team for guidance, there’s clearly a larger problem at hand. But we realized this was an opportunity to change the narrative and remind the world that it takes courage to ask for help.

Since 2020, Kicking The Stigma has worked to raise awareness around mental health and combat the feelings of shame associated with mental illness. We created a space for athletes to advocate for vulnerability and launched a grant program to support nonprofits across the country. But most importantly, we’ve inspired hundreds of Hoosiers to speak up, share their story, and seek treatment for their mental health.

Our

Why

Across the globe, more than 615 million people are currently living with a mental health condition. In fact, 1 in 5 adults in the United States will experience a mental illness this year, and Indiana is no exception. Over a million Hoosiers have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, with even more reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression.

This is the reality we live in. But despite these alarming statistics, there remains a huge gap in mental health care, leading to 60% of people never getting the treatment they need.

That’s why Kicking The Stigma works to remove barriers to access and help every Hoosier find care in their community. Together, we have committed over $30 million to mental health research and awareness—and set an example of what it means to stand against stigma.

Our

Impact

Million

Committed to Mental Health Awareness, Organizations, and Research

Million

in Action Grants Distributed to Mental Health Nonprofits

Million

Impressions on Kicking The Stigma Awareness Campaigns

$30

Million

Committed to Mental Health Awareness, Organizations, and Research

$5.2

Million

in Action Grants Distributed to Mental Health Nonprofits

179

Million

Impressions on Kicking The Stigma Awareness Campaigns

Our

Mission

Kicking The Stigma’s focus is two-fold: raising awareness about the prevalence of mental health disorders in our communities and raising and distributing funding to nonprofits and other organizations for direct treatment services.

Our

Vision

To be an example, convener, and catalyst for strategic change in the mental health space by using the power of the Indianapolis Colts platform to improve the lives of Hoosiers and beyond.

“We all play a part in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. Through collaboration, we can build a high-quality, evidence-based, easily accessible behavioral health care system that encourages all Hoosiers to seek care when they need it… We are grateful to the Indianapolis Colts and Kicking The Stigma for their partnership and leadership in making mental health care a priority and look forward to collaborating for years to come.”

Jay Chaudhary
Director, Division of Mental Health and Addiction
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration

“In a time where more than a quarter of the population will experience a diagnosable mental health condition, Mental Health America of Indiana stands ready to continue our partnership with the Indianapolis Colts. Not only has the Kicking The Stigma initiative started the conversation on normalizing mental health, but it has also brought hope to many around the state and nation.”

Steve McCaffrey, JD
President and CEO
Mental Health America of Indiana

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Videos

Our

Partners

Kicking The Stigma has become a leading voice for mental health awareness in the sports community, but our role remains focused on facilitating and uplifting our partners across the country. We help shine a light on the important work being done in the mental health sector, while investing in research and services to support our neighbors in need.

As we continue to raise awareness around mental health disorders, we believe it’s critically important to promote evidence-based treatments, trusted by professionals in the field. We design our campaigns and programming in collaboration with nationally recognized experts, and all our donations go directly toward mental health nonprofits, research institutions, and other community partners working to tackle this crisis.

Need funding for your mental health initiative?

Kicking The Stigma provides financial support for mental health projects through our Action Grant Program. Nonprofit organizations making an impact in Indiana are encouraged to submit their application to receive up to $150,000 in grant funding.