LARAMIE, Wyo. (October 21, 2019) – Former Detroit Lions quarterback Eric Hipple spoke to Wyoming students about overcoming the stigma surrounding mental illness Sunday evening in the UniWyo Sports Complex. The event was open to all Wyoming students.
 
Part of Hipple's speech focused on mental health, while another section taught attendees five components of mental fitness: predictability, controllability, trust, relationships and purpose. Hipple has traveled the globe for the past 10 years speaking about mental health in front of high school students, teachers, healthcare programs, youth groups, U.S. military personnel and corporations.
 
Since his 15-year-old son Jeff's suicide, Hipple has devoted his life to building awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness. Hipple recently received the University of Michigan 2015 Neubacher Award for his work with the stigma around disabilities and has received the Detroit Lions 2010 Courage House Award and the 2008 Life Saver Achievement Award from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
 
He co-authored a study examining depression among retired football players, which appeared in the April 2007 issue of "Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise." In addition, Hipple was awarded a presidential citation at the American Psychological Association 2006 Annual Convention for his six years of national work combating adolescent depression and suicide prevention.
 
The speaking engagement was a part of Wyoming Athletics' "Excellence at 7,200 Student-Athlete Development" campaign, and was coordinated by Taylor Stuemky, the Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations, and Campus Recreation.