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Beyond the goals: Coaches provide safety net in youth mental health August 19, 2025 Expert Takes Mental Health Healthy Communities 3 MINUTE READ

As a soccer enthusiast, I couldn’t be more ecstatic about the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to the US, and I can’t wait to see if Leo Messi can help pull it off again for Argentina. 

When I was a young boy, soccer – or fútbol – was just beginning to take off in the United States. Today soccer is more popular than ever in the US, especially among young athletes. In North Carolina, the growth of youth soccer has been fueled by Charlotte FC and Major League Soccer’s presence in the state. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is teaming up with Charlotte FC to support youth mental health through community outreach programs focused on increasing awareness and reducing stigma. 

As part of its pledge to support youth mental health, resiliency and wellbeing, Blue Cross NC has invested in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training for community partners. In collaboration with Charlotte FC, we have helped connect youth coaches with YMHFA training – a course that helps adults identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health challenges. The need is urgent: 40% of US high school students report feeling persistently sad or hopeless and 1 in 5 have seriously considered suicide, according to a CDC report. Youth and communities are calling out for help – and we must respond.

As a parent (and one-time coach) who has seen teenage boys play soccer, I’ve seen up close how influential coaches are to the young people they work with. Coaches aren’t just helping their players develop skills to be elite performers on the field. From the sidelines, they also observe when they’re struggling off the pitch too. 

Coaches’ roles in supporting young people’s health and well-being should not be overlooked. Given their importance in the day-to-day lives of our children, they can be a powerful first line of defense in our state’s youth mental health crisis. In most cases, they aren’t counselors or mental health professionals, but they recognize athletes who are distracted or lacking focus. They’re paying attention to cues that could indicate one of their players is experiencing a challenge to their well-being – any gesture of support could lead to difficult conversations. When those conversations arise, it is critical that coaches are equipped to respond effectively, providing empathy and support. 

YMHFA training gives coaches the tools to: 

  • Identify early signs of mental health challenges
  • Start supportive conversations
  • Connect youth when they need help

Already, more than a dozen youth coaches completed the course to certify in YMHFA. Blue Cross NC continues to work toward a bold goal to ensure 3,700 community leaders receive training in YMHFA

Mental health is just as important as physical health – especially for young people navigating the pressures of school, sports, and a social life. Coaches are uniquely positioned to be allies in this space and can advocate for mental wellness.

As we gear up for the excitement of the World Cup, let’s also celebrate and support the everyday champions who are shaping lives in our communities. 

Today with the help of Charlotte FC,

we've gotten together a group of

teachers, community advocates, coaches

who work with their youth soccer club

program, and we're talking about youth

mental health first aid. 

 

SCREEN TEXT: Leo Scarpati, blue cross nc program manager

 

One of the

tools that are used to help assess when

a child or a youth may be in need of

additional resources in dealing with

their mental health.

 

SCREEN TEXT: Kathy Graham, augustine literacy project

 

The things that have stood out to me is

the prevalence of diagnosis of mental

health disorders and how young people

can be diagnosed. Kind of knowing too

that it is not my place to make that

diagnosis.

 

SCREEN TEXT: Nicholas Artis, cms teacher & greater goals coach

 

We can give mental health resources

to uh youth and adolescents in a

broader way that we can help them,

and we're that branch between them and

the resources and help our knowledge

with the students when we see them going

through something that we can help them

and we be a resource for them.

Santiago Estrada, JD Santiago Estrada, JD Chief Legal Officer

Santiago Estrada is chief legal officer at Blue Cross NC. He is responsible for Blue Cross NC’s operations related to legal, audit, government affairs, health policy, compliance and external communications.

He's proud to play a role in supporting Blue Cross NC’s mission of better health care for all.

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