UVU, Intermountain Health and The Defensive Line Mental Health Panel at an event held on UVU campus on Oct. 8, 2026

Aaron Rackham / UVU Athletics

UVU Athletics, Intermountain Health and The Defensive Line Promote Mental Health Awareness

10/8/2026 7:41:00 PM

OREM, Utah — Utah Valley University, in partnership with Intermountain Health and The Defensive Line, hosted "The Strongest Play Is Asking for Help," an event highlighting the importance of mental health awareness among young adults. The panel discussion took place Thursday in the UVU Ballroom, with all UVU student-athletes and coaches in attendance.

The evening was hosted by Chris and Martha Thomas of The Defensive Line, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing suicide among young adults by changing the way people communicate and connect. The organization was founded by Solomon Thomas, a defensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans, and his parents, Chris and Martha, following the tragic loss of their daughter and sister, Ella, to suicide.

The event featured a panel discussion with UVU student-athletes Paige Shumway (softball) and Cameron Jacobs (cross country and track and field); UVU wrestling head coach Adam Hall; UVU sports psychologist Dr. Clint Norseth; and former UVU sprinter and Olympic skeleton athlete Akwasi Frimpong. Frimpong made history as the first Ghanaian athlete to compete in skeleton at the Winter Olympics, representing Ghana at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Jacobs shared his experience of losing his father in 2025, discussing the challenges of being the oldest son and feeling responsible for supporting his family while coming to terms with the fact that he could not navigate grief alone.

"I started putting everything into a box and kind of pushing it away," Jacobs said. "It wasn't until I realized that I have amazing teammates, I have amazing coaches, my amazing wife and mom, and everyone who supports me in my life. They were just there for me."

Thursday's event provided an open and supportive space for UVU student-athletes to discuss mental health, understand that it is OK not to be OK, learn about available resources, and recognize signs of emotional distress in others.

Shumway shared how injuries and the challenges of recovery affected her mental health and how therapy helped her find a healthier path forward.

"(After two surgeries) I was pretty beaten down and was working a lot of hours and, I think, trying to fill a purpose that I wasn't getting from softball anymore," Shumway said. "I was forced to go to therapy by my parents, and at first, I was pretty upset about that. A lot of people think therapy makes you weak, especially athletes, but last year it changed my life, and I'm in a much better place now."

Print Friendly Version