CEDAR CITY, Utah – Southern Utah University Athletics and Intermountain Health brought student-athletes together Tuesday, Oct. 6, for The Strongest Play, an event focused on an important message: asking for help is a sign of strength.
Dr. Andrea Wieland, a 1996 Olympian and Intermountain Health sports psychologist who works with SUU Athletics, emceed the event. She opened the evening by introducing Chris and Martha Thomas, founders of The Defensive Line, who shared their family's story and the importance of having open conversations about mental health.
The Thomases founded The Defensive Line after losing their daughter and sister, Ella, to suicide at age 24. The organization's mission is "to end the public health crisis of youth suicide by centering the experience of people of color and transforming the way we communicate and connect about mental health."
Chris and Martha spoke about losing Ella as their son, Solomon, began his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers. They shared how the family's grief affected Solomon's mental health and his performance on the field as he faced intense scrutiny and criticism early in his NFL career.
Their message to the 
student-athletes was simple: don't be afraid to speak up when you're struggling, and learn to recognize when the people around you might need help, too.
"Student-athletes are humans first and competitors second," Wieland said. "When we normalize conversations about mental health and make support easier to access, we help athletes build confidence, care for their well-being and perform at their highest levels in sport and in life."
Wieland then introduced a panel featuring four members of the SUU community:
- SUU Director of Athletics Myndee Kay Larsen
- Head track and field and cross country coach Isaac Wood
- Senior gymnast Kendall McGuire
- Graduate student and football defensive lineman Seni Tuiaki
Moderated by Chris Thomas, the discussion centered on the pressures student-athletes face and the importance of having support systems in place. Panelists talked about asking for help when expectations are high, finding ways to decompress and reset, and navigating life after graduation when being an athlete is no longer part of your daily identity.
Throughout the conversation, one theme kept coming up: student-athletes don't have to go through difficult moments alone. Surround yourself with people you trust, remember that the people around you want to see you succeed, and don't lose sight of who you are beyond your sport.
"The strongest athletes aren't those who try to handle everything alone," Wieland said. "They're the ones who recognize when they need support, use the resources around them, and understand that asking for help is a sign of courage and strength."
Mental Health Resources
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a not-for-profit system of 33 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs.
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