Lakeland nonprofit trains coaches in youth mental health

LAKELAND, Fla. — A local nonprofit teamed up with a Bay area hospital to help coaches and guardians better address youth mental health.

R2Cares hosted a series of trainings and events over the weekend. Its first was a Youth Mental Health First Aid class with Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital.

For attendee Antwan Brown, the true impact goes far beyond winning a game.

“Winning is important, but if you’re not reaching the person, what good is it to be a coach?” he said.

Brown recently started as the assistant baseball coach for Edward Waters University. While his coaching career stretches back nearly 11 years, he says the role didn’t become more than just a title until his own battle with depression.

“It’s very, very dear to my heart to be the person that I needed and give back to the kids because I’m with them every single day,” he said. “And my role as a coach is to be the person they can come to about anything, no judgment, and help them overcome adversity.”

Learning how to better support youth is why Brown decided to attend the Youth Mental Health First Aid class. The goal was to teach adults who are routinely around children to recognize warning signs.

“And if there’s anything going on, giving them the resources to help find the help that they need,” Ronnie Richardson, founder of R2Cares, said.

Richardson, who’s also a coach for the Tampa Bay Rays’ minor league, says equipping adults with these tools can make all the difference. Each participant left with a first aid certification, which Brown says does more than just fill a spot on a résumé.

“It’s good to be amongst people and see their side and different stories, you know? So that’s why I have to be here to continue to learn because I’m a student of the game,” he said.

If you would like to join R2Cares’ future events or trainings, visit the organization’s website.