DAVID IN THE NEWS

In Forward, Thinking | Episode 5, 2x NBA World Champion David West and Ricky Volante are joined by David McFarland, a mental wellness and suicide prevention expert and PCL Advisory Board member and ESPN sports journalist Bomani Jones

David discusses his efforts to create national initiatives for mental health and wellness in sports and his founding role in creating the new highly coordinated U.S. COVID-19 Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Response effort. 

Social impact consultant David McFarland, who works with Hollywood companies on issues around mental-health awareness and depiction, stresses the importance of reaching out for help. "As the coronavirus pushes America to the brink of a mental health pandemic, the mental health and suicide crisis in our nation can no longer be a second-class issue," says McFarland

On April 28, 2020,  David McFarland's vision moved ideas from paper to action and the U.S. National Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Response to COVID-19 was launched. The launch of this highly coordinated U.S. Response is a historical moment in our nation. It's the first-ever implementation of its kind in the history of the U.S. Led by the esteemed Dr, Josh Gordon, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Patrick J. Kennedy.

The AFI DOCS Interview: ALONE IN THE GAME Creator/Executive Producer        David McFarland

ALONE IN THE GAME – the AT&T AUDIENCE Network film world-premiering at AFI DOCS 2018 – exposes the outdated ideas and outright prejudices that make competitive sports one of the gay rights movement’s final frontiers, and shows how a new generation of queer and transgender athletes are scoring victories on and off the field by standing up for their rights and demanding a chance to compete.

Alone in the Game is a new documentary about LGBT athletes for whom the locker room is a sort of giant closet. 

Alone in the Game  selected as one of the "The Best LGBTQ Documentaries of 2018"

Alone In The Game - A new groundbreaking documentary about LGBTQ issues in sports.

Sports leagues lend a hand in fight 

for LGBTQ rights.

"What we saw play out in Indiana and Arizona is how sport can act as a universal language and a common denominator that has the ability to break down walls and barriers to create social impact and change that can help violations against LGBT people.

OP-ED By David McFarland: 

Our Role in Stopping a Suicide Crisis

THE SUICIDE AWARENESS CONUNDRUM

The death of Jamey Rodemeyer was one of those rare tragedies that also became a catalyst for change. 

Interview: Former Trevor Project CEO founds organization seeking equality in sports and entertainment.