Star Athletes Join Ad Council to Promote Mental Health in 'Love, Your Mind'

The Ad Council has expanded its 'Love, Your Mind' mental health campaign to encourage people nationwide to prioritise their mental health, featuring a partnership with 17 professional athletes as well as major sports leagues, media companies and top brands. Tapping into the cultural power of sports, the 'Love, Your Mind' Playbook – developed in collaboration with the Huntsman Mental Health Foundation and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation – offers tools and resources to show people how to prioritise their mental health every day.

The new initiative kicks off with a series of public service advertisements (PSAs), which debuted this morning on ABC’s 'Good Morning America,' inspiring viewers to make a game plan to take care of their mental health. The series features leading athletes:

• A’ja Wilson, WNBA
• Alex Bowman, NASCAR
• Ali Truwit, Paralympic Swimmer
• Bijan Robinson, NFL
• Chloe Kim, USA Snowboarding
• Coby White, NBA
• Diego Luna, MLS & USMNT
• Francisco Lindor, MLB
• Jack Eichel, NHL
• Karl-Anthony Towns, NBA
• Macey Hodge, NWSL
• Noah Lyles, USA Track
• Paige Bueckers, WNBA
• Quinton Byfield, NHL
• Russell Wilson, NFL
• Tim O’Connell, PRCA
• Tim Ream, MLS & USMNT

“The world of sports has tremendous cultural influence – and now, with the ‘Love, Your Mind’ Playbook, we’re opening up new conversations about mental health that are authentic, inspiring and deeply impactful,” said Lisa Sherman, president and CEO, the Ad Council. “We’re grateful to partner with some of the most influential athletes, leagues and brands to meet people where they are – on the field, in the stands, and at home – to spark meaningful conversations and drive lasting change.”

The PSAs introduce the 'Love, Your Mind' celebration, a gesture in which athletes form a heart with their hands and then point to their head – a simple yet meaningful reminder that taking care of our minds is just as important as taking care of our physical health. The new series was developed pro bono through a collaboration of three Stagwell agencies: 72andSunny for creative, Assembly Global for media outreach and HUNTER for earned media.

“Paying attention to your mental health is something that should be celebrated,” said Bryan Rowles, partner and chief creative officer at large, 72andSunny. “So we partnered with some of today’s most visible professional athletes to help normalise the conversation around mental health — to emphasise that it deserves the same focus and care as physical performance.”

In addition to athlete celebrations, the 'Love, Your Mind' Playbook will show up at marquee sporting events over the next several years, amplified by media partners and brands. The initiative’s first brand partnership activation took place Oct.12 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where NASCAR driver Alex Bowman debuted a custom 'Love, Your Mind' paint scheme for the No.48 Chevrolet, with a matching helmet, sponsored by Ally Financial.

The PSAs and in-person activations promote the 'Love, Your Mind' Playbook, available at LoveYourMindPlaybook.org (in Spanish at PlaybookDeConAmorTuMente.org).The Playbook offers practical mental health tools and resources, as well as 'athlete play' videos in which participating athletes share the mental health practices that help keep them grounded, both in and out of the game.

The effort is supported by the following major sports leagues and organisations:

• Major League Baseball (MLB)
• Major League Soccer (MLS)
• NASCAR
• National Basketball Association (NBA)
• National Football League (NFL)
• National Hockey League (NHL)
• National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
• Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA)
• United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer)
• Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA)

Since launching in 2023, the 'Love, Your Mind' campaign has secured more than $90 million in donated media support, driving more than 2.2 million visits to the campaign’s website for mental health tools and resources. Additionally, Ad Council research fielded in late 2025 shows that nearly half of U.S. adults ages 18-44 (49%) are aware of 'Love, Your Mind' PSAs. The campaign is part of the Ad Council’s Mental Health Initiative, whose funders include lead partner Huntsman Mental Health Foundation, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Ally Financial, AT&T, Bank of America, Delta Air Lines and JPMorganChase.

“Mental health is not just a personal issue, it’s a public health priority,” said Miranda Barnard, president, Huntsman Mental Health Foundation. “By engaging the sports community, this campaign helps normalise taking care of our mental health and empowers individuals with tools that are grounded in evidence and empathy.”

“Our mental health is as important as our physical health, and it’s critical for each of us to have the tools and support to foster flourishing mental health and well-being,” said Beth Brown, managing director of mental health and well-being, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. “We're proud to support this effort to make taking care of our minds a visible, celebrated part of our culture.”

Per the Ad Council’s model, the PSAs (available in English and Spanish) will run accross the US in time and space donated by media outlets across broadcast TV, online video, out-of-home, radio and digital media platforms, including support from ABC, Amazon Ads, ESPN, Kargo, LG Ad Solutions, Pinterest and Teads.