For men and boys, sports and exercise are often the most trusted coping tools, yet the industries built around sports culture are increasingly linked to rising depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and financial collapse. This panel unpacks that tension: how competition builds resilience, how pressure and industry wear it back down, and what it takes to keep sports working as therapy without losing the men it’s meant to help.
Moderator: Dena Trujillo, CEO, Crisis Text Line
Speakers:
- Sam DeMello, Founder & CEO, Evive Inc.
- Julius Thomas, CEO and Founder, Optimal Performance
- Chris Thomas, Co-Founder and CEO, The Defensive Line
In partnership with Crisis Text Line