A high school football game Friday in Cary took on a deeper meaning, as two teams came together to raise awareness about mental health.
Panther Creek and Green Level High Schools held their third annual Mental Health Awareness game. Players wore "Live for More" shirts during warm-ups, while the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) shared mental health information and resources with students and families.
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Players told WRAL that the game is important for them to raise awareness of mental illness, specifically in athletes.
"We just wanted to make sure people know when they come out here today [about] what we're supporting," said Finn Stevenson, one of the players in the game. "Let people know that mental illness is not talked about enough. It's OK to not be OK."
Organizers said the goal was to use Friday night football to help break the stigma surrounding mental health and remind students that support is available.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness, call the NAMI Wake County hotline at 919-848-4490 or text “NAMI” to 741741 for 24/7, confidential, free crisis counseling. More resources can be found at www.nami.org.