Tuesday, September 10, Milford High School hosted the "Kick the Stigma" event, aimed at raising awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. The event featured the Milford JV and Varsity girls soccer teams in back-to-back matches, with the JV game starting at 5 p.m., followed by the Varsity game at 7 p.m..
The event was held in partnership with 1N5, 988, the Ben Morrison Fund, Best Point Education and Behavioral Health and Child Focus, organizations dedicated to supporting mental health initiatives in the community. Their involvement played a key role in making the evening both impactful and educational.
During halftime, Alec Kann, Goalkeeper for FC Cincinnati, shared an encouraging message about mental health and finding support. "I've dealt with anxiety and depression throughout my career," Kann said. "At times, I didn’t feel I could speak up or knew where to turn. But what I’ve learned is that it's so important to find support systems—teammates, friends or mentors—who you can talk to when things get tough. You don’t have to go through it alone, and asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness."
Kann also addressed the need for change in how mental health is viewed in sports. "There’s often too much focus on physical performance, and not enough on mental well-being. But we can shift that. I want to be part of changing the narrative in sports and encouraging others to speak up, support each other, and prioritize mental health alongside physical health."
The event successfully brought attention to mental health issues and engaged students, families, and the broader community in meaningful dialogue. Milford Schools would like to thank all the organizations, participants, and supporters for helping make this initiative a success.