Breaking the Stigma: How Dr. Deanna Nobleza is Promoting Mental Health in Professional Baseball

In her second season, Dr. Deanna Nobleza has taken up the mantle of mental health director for the Philadelphia Phillies. Her primary responsibility is to ensure the well-being of the players and coaches, both mentally and physically. She believes that mental health is an integral part of overall health, especially in a high-pressure lifestyle like professional baseball with its grueling travel schedule and constant separation from loved ones.

Despite some initial reservations about the stigma surrounding mental health, Nobleza has found that there is a willingness among the team to embrace mental health initiatives and seek help when needed. This shift in attitude is a testament to how far we have come in destigmatizing mental health issues.

Nobleza’s work in this area has been nothing short of remarkable. She has started sessions with players and coaches to address the challenges they face both on and off the field. By doing so, she hopes to pave the way for other women to take up similar roles in professional sports.

Nobleza encourages athletes to reach out for help when needed, seeing it as a brave and beneficial step towards improving their performance on and off the field. Her efforts are paying off, as more players are opening up about their struggles with mental health issues and seeking support from their teammates and coaches alike.