World Mental Health Day Screening Series

From October 2026 to November 2026, The Quell Foundation will bring Human First: Beyond the Athlete to universities across the country for a special series of screenings and conversations in recognition of World Mental Health Day.

 

About the Screening Series

College athletics can be an extraordinary source of purpose, community, and achievement. It can also come with intense pressure.

Student-athletes are balancing academics, competition, relationships, identity, and their futures, often while navigating injury, performance expectations, and uncertainty about what comes next. In a culture built around toughness, it can be difficult to acknowledge when something is wrong or ask for help.

That is why universities are such important settings for these conversations.

Campuses bring together student-athletes, coaches, athletic departments, mental health professionals, faculty, families, and peers at a time when attitudes around mental health are still taking shape. By experiencing the film together, these communities can make conversations about mental health more visible, more normal, and easier to begin.

Through candid storytelling, the Screening Series invites audiences to look beyond performance and recognize the whole person behind the athlete. Our goal is not simply to screen a film, but to create conversations that continue after the credits roll and remind student-athletes that strength includes speaking honestly, supporting one another, and knowing when to seek help.

Screening Events

Georgia Southern University

10/5/26

Hosted by the Department of Athletics

Aurora University

10/5/26

Hosted by the School of Social Work & the Department of Athletics

University of Massachusetts Boston

10/5/26

Hosted by the Department of Athletics

Gustavus Adolphus College

10/5/26

Hosted by the Gustavus Adolphus Lift the Mask Club and Department of Athletics

University of Houston

10/6/26

Hosted by the Department of Athletics

University of Charlotte

10/5/26

Hosted by the School of Social Work & Department of Athletics

USA Hockey

10/7/26

Hosted by USA Hockey & GAC Men’s Ice Hockey

Springfield College

10/8/26

Hosted by Springfield Lift the Mask Club and Department of Athletics

Drexel University

10/14/26

Hosted by the Department of Athletics

Georgia State University

10/15/26

Hosted by the Sport Administration & Department of Athletics

RowNY

10/16/26

Hosted by RowNY Athletes in collaboration with Fordham University and Saint John’s University Rowing Teams

Purdue University

10/17/26

Hosted by the Swim & Dive Team

Lynn University

10/19/26

Hosted by the Hannifan Center for Career & Alumni Connections and the Department of Athletics

Duke

10/19/26

A special screening of Morgan’s Message hosted by the Roger’s Family

University of Rhode Island

10/26/26

Hosted by the Department of Athletics

University of Southern Indiana

10/27/26

Hosted by the Department of Social Work & Athletics

University of Kentucky

11/10/26

Hosted by the Graduate School of Social Work and the Department of Athletics

Wichita Public Schools

11/12/26

Hosted by Wichita Public Schools Athletics Administration, Coaches and Community

North Carolina State University

11/17/26

Hosted by the Graduate School of Social Work and the Department of Athletics

Ohio State University

Coming Soon

Hosted by the Department of Athletics

Screening Map

See where screenings are happening across the country.

Every athlete’s experience is different

The stories featured in the documentary explore the moments behind the statistics, uniforms, and public accomplishments—the pressures athletes carry, the challenges they may not show, and the people and experiences that help them find a way forward.

Meet some of the athletes who chose to share their stories.

Tess - Former D1 Athlete, College Soccer Player

Trey - Professional Basketball Player

Bella - Former College Softball Player

The Conversation Continues 

Each screening is an opportunity to bring people together—not only to watch a film, but to listen, talk, and build a stronger culture of support around athlete mental health.

Follow the Screening Series as it travels to campuses and communities across the country.