MLBPA Launches Mental Health Program with Better Access for Spanish-Speaking Players

The Major League Baseball Players Association announced Wednesday that it is starting a new mental health and wellness program for players in recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness Month.

The announcement explained that it is "a groundbreaking initiative to support the holistic well-being of major league and minor league players and their families."

It also explained that the program is independent from the league and teams for confidentiality reasons and another resource for players to utilize.

Dr. Jonathan Fader is running it, and he has plenty of experience in the world of sports considering he is the former team psychologist for the New York Mets and the former director of mental conditioning for the NFL's New York Giants.

The announcement also explained that "one focus of the program is to provide access to care for Spanish-speaking players, who represent nearly one-third of MLB rosters and have historically faced significant barriers to mental health treatment."

This is in addition to what the league offers.

On MLB's website, it lists the various services it provides for players, which include free and confidential counseling and a 24/7 helpline.

What's more, the league also partnered with Crisis Text Line, which is a free, 24/7, confidential text-based mental health service that players can use whenever needed.

On Wednesday, MLB posted a video with players such as Bryce Harper, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman stressing it's OK to ask for help:

This comes after multiple players went on the injured list for mental health reasons last season as the sport further embraced the reality that physical issues aren't the only limitations some athletes and their families face.