Terry Hessbrook and James Moore now join me on the Beyond the Score set.

Terry James thank you so much for your time.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

And thank you for sharing your stories.

I want to start here, Terry.

What role does the culture of football and sports in general play in exacerbating mental health issues?

I can speak from th from the football perspective.

You know, I think a lot of times we're guilty as football coaches, you know, trying to get our kids to be tough and be warriors and be you know, rub some dirt on it, you know, and get back in there type attitude and culture.

And I think sometimes maybe that leads to kids doing things maybe they shouldn't do.

What's your take on that?

I agree because when we were brought up in our era that's what it was a suck it up.

Get back in there.

Let's go.

You're alright.

You're okay.

Right?

And nowadays, we really have to stop and think about it and look at what's going on in front of us with our kids.

Both of your experience when it comes to mental health, how have those experience changed the way you view life?

Start with you, James.

Well, it has really broadened my perspective of life.

Okay.

I don't look at it in a bubble no more.

I look at it as life.

You have one life to live, enjoy life.

And in that process we want to impact people's lives by sharing our stories.

Okay.

To make a difference so they don't have some of the struggles that we've had or go through some of the struggles that we have, like we do with our kids.

And I think that we share our story.

You know, our son Brady story in hopes that we can possibl get through to someone out there that needs to hear his message in hopes that that another family doesn't have to endure the the hell that our family and our community and school are going through with this, you know, terrible decision that our son Brady made.

And we don't kno who needs to hear the message.

You know, I've spoken to over 10,000 students in the last 14 months and we don't know who in that crowd needs to hear that message.

You both are now public speakers.

I'm wondering what message do you guys really want to hammer hom every time you do grab that mic and speak to young young men and women out there?

James.

My my end goal.

Impact people's lives to make a difference.

To let people know it's okay.

It's okay.

We're all struggling.

Everybody is going through something.

Everybody.

I think the big thing that when we speak to kids is, you know, we want to we want to get that message across about, you know, about speaking up and about it's okay to talk about mental health.

You break your arm, you brea your leg, You you go get a cast.

All right.

But suddenly, if you hav something, maybe it's not right.

Maybe you're not feeling right or think in the right way.

You know, all of a sudden there's a stigma attached that and we don't tell anybody because we're afraid of what people are going to think.

And I think we got to get past that.

Do you think schools and institutions are are doing a better job at addressing this issue nationwide?

I think if I may, James, I think I think you see a lot more of it on TV.

You watch the NCA basketball tournament last year.

You watch you watch any college, you know, I know that Wayne State University has hired somebod that's on campus for athletes, you know, to talk with those kids.

And I believe that Northern Michigan has done as well.

And I know that lots of other schools are doing that now at the Division one level and making it a priority, these kids mental health and making it a priority.

It's in the forefront right now.

Yes, it is in the forefront.

And we've got to capitalize an we've got to capitalize on that so that we can impact kids lives and make a difference.

Any message to the silent sufferers?

You're not alone.

Speak up.

And before.

Before you make that decision to to change the path of your life, speak up and talk to somebody first.

It's not just going to impact them, right?

Okay.

It's going to impact a community.

A community.

Their loved ones.

Say something.

Reach for help.

Ask for help.

There's nothing wrong with asking for help.

I thank you both for again being so candid and sharing your stories.

And I know there's somebody out there watching and this has certainly helped.

Terry, James, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.