At Lakewood High School, spring sports are often defined by competition, team spirit and long nights under the lights. This April, however, they’re also focused on something bigger: mental health awareness.

Morgan’s Message is a national organization dedicated to eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health in athletics. At Lakewood, the club is new but already making an impact. Staff member Lynn Patton said, “The message deals with mental health, mental well-being, mainly focuses on athletes, but really the message is really good for the entire student body.”

Even in its first year, student interest has been strong. “The amount of interest from other students to participate and be involved has definitely been overwhelming,” said Patton.

Senior Vashti Arrow led the effort to bring the program to Lakewood after attending a college lacrosse game that featured a Morgan’s Message dedication. “It really caught my eye,” Arrow said. “I think Morgan’s Message is something really great, because it helps eliminate the stigma around mental health for all student athletes.”

For Arrow, the work is also personal. “I struggled freshman year, and I wish I had some sort of community that could help,” she said. That experience motivated her to build a support system for other students. “Just having a group of people that you can be able to talk to, I think, is such a great thing.”

That sense of connection is central to the upcoming dedication games. The first will take place April 16 for girls lacrosse, followed by games on April 20, April 24 and May 1 for baseball, boys lacrosse and softball.

These events go beyond competition. Each game will include an informational table with resources, symbols of awareness, and even representatives helping educate attendees about mental health.

“The dedication game is to show the impact of what Morgan’s Message has [done for] athletes,” Arrow said. “They read a script out to understand what Morgan’s Message is, and we’ll have an information table.” Bringing outside resources to these games makes them even more meaningful, helping both parents and students understand how mental health affects athletes.

Teams will also show visible support. Baseball player Tyler Laidley said, “We’re all gonna have shirts, and we’re gonna have stickers on our helmets to represent it,”

For many athletes, the message resonates. “Mental health [has] a very big tie between playing on the field and school. It’s very stressful,” said Laidley. “You realize it’s not like a small-time issue. It’s a big-time issue; everybody goes through the same thing. You realize you’re not alone.”

That idea — not being alone — is at the core of the organization’s mission.

“[The goal] is just to bring awareness and let kids know that it’s okay to reach out and get help,” Patton said.

Arrow hopes attendees take away more than just the game itself. “I hope people take away a lot of life lessons,” she said. “Sometimes people feel alone, and I think it’s good that there’s a community of people that you’re able to go to.”

With Arrow graduating, there is hope the club will continue to grow. “It is a very good message, and its students taking care of students,” Patton said. “I really hope that continues.”

As spring sports continue, the dedication games offer a chance to support more than just a team — they highlight the importance of mental health and remind students that support is always within reach.