National Basketball Players Association Prioritizes Athlete Well-Being

Professional basketball players face a unique set of stressors while working in a high-pressure environment like the NBA. As a result, there have been an increasing number of requests for mental health resources over the past several years. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), the player union founded in 1954, developed a mental health program in 2018 in response to a surge of elite athletes grappling with mental health concerns. It is important to distinguish the NBPA from the NBA, which is the league governing body that oversees the business aspects of the sport.

In response to the growing demand for athlete mental health services, the NBPA brought in William D. Parham, Ph.D., ABPP, to serve as the Director of the Mental Health and Wellness Program. Derek Anderson, retired NBA player and mental health counselor at the NBPA, and Michael Grinnell, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Player Wellness Counselor, are a part of the mental health initiatives at the NBPA as well. “Our program is able to be a pillar of support and extension of their community during multiple transitions with a focus on maintaining their wellbeing and livelihood,” says Grinnell.

Through Dr. Parham’s leadership, the Mental Health and Wellness Program has developed four major pillars that all remain active today. The first component is the Directory of Mental Health Service Providers, which includes psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers. The NBPA has vetted these licensed mental health professionals and has a list of over 200 clinicians on this directory, which covers all the cities where there is an NBA team.

The second component is the mental health literacy portal, which is a password-protected part of the NBPA’s website that has nearly 100 links to various mental health resources that provide additional education. “Mental health is on a continuum and the goal at the NBPA is not to lump people into the mentally health or not category, but rather where do you see yourself on the continuum. We try to reframe mental health as your mental wealth, and we use that analogy with players,” says Dr. Parham.

The third component is the Rookie Transition Program, where the mental health and wellness clinicians bring the rookies together to learn about NBA life and one component of that is mental wellness. “We have access to provide mental health educational programming with young players and their parents at different national camps and meet with rookies during their transition into the NBA through our Rookie Transition Program”, says Grinnell. Anderson highlights that many NBA players are scared to voice their feelings and end up bottling up negativity that later impacts their lives. “Now we can share with others how to be our best selves and not feel ashamed or judged. The NBPA’s mental health program is a place of peace” says Anderson.

Finally, the NBPA extends its reach through holding larger conversations, such as the Global Summit of Mental Health in Elite Athletes. Since the summit, there have been continued campaigns to promote mental health awareness and collaboration with other professional player associations. When asked about the goal of these programs, Dr. Parham says, “We really wanted to get across that we’re interested in the person as primary and the player as secondary”.

The NBPA’s Mental Health & Wellness Program has positively impacted players’ lives. “We’re creating awareness about mental health being just as important to care for as physical health, reducing stigma associated with help-seeking and therapy, and helping players feel safe and supported utilizing our program”, says Grinnell. Several players have requested services through the NBPA’s program and provided positive feedback about their experiences. There has been a notable uptick in inquiries from agents, security, and staff seeking information about the NBPA’s Mental Health & Wellness Program, according to Dr. Parham.

Anderson’s mental health journey started when he found both of his parents after they abandoned him in an apartment right before he turned 12 years old. His story underscores the transformative power of providing support to players, which he started to do himself in his role with the NBPA starting in 2021. “The NBPA’s Mental Health Program has and is helping players have better careers and healthy lives off the court,” says Anderson.

Dr. Parham, Anderson, and Grinnell have been working diligently to ensure that the players not only have access to these mental health services but that they also have education available to them to learn more about the mental health and performance continuum. The NBPA’s Mental Health & Wellness Program represents a significant advancement in professional sports, demonstrating the impact that mental health treatment can have on the player and the broader community. Dr. Parham aptly notes, “When you invest in the mental health and wellness of players, everybody wins.”