USC attack player Caleb Williams on Tuesday it released a public service announcement focused on addressing mental health.
Williams and a team of fellow USC communications students produced and filmed a national public service announcement focused on spreading mental health awareness.
“I was trying to find a better way to reach out and help in any way and attack something that isn’t being attacked as aggressively as it should be,” Williams told ESPN.
The PSA is called take advantage of the awkward, and Williams’ involvement is indicative of how he plans to tackle mental health issues throughout his career. The commercial is expected to air nationally.
It represents an evolution in Williams’ defense as his platform grows. Last year, Williams said he painted his nails with the suicide prevention number as a way to spread awareness. This is the next step, which includes him starring in a 2 minute 40 second commercial as he reflects on her own feelings about mental health.
“I want to be a voice, to be a brother to anyone who is dealing with (mental health) challenges,” Williams said. “I’m no different. We all go through some struggles. Depending on who you are, you take things differently. I’m trying to be there for whoever I can.”
Williams said he hopes the message will spread to a wide audience. She recognized that mental health problems affect all sectors of society.
“We have this idea that football players should be tough or this and that,” Williams said. “I’m still human. My right guard and left tackle are still human, and those are the baddest guys on the football field. We’re all human.”
The entire project is a collaboration of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the Jed Foundation (which focuses on emotional health and suicide prevention for young adults), the Ad Council, and Caleb Cares, which is the Williams charity.
Williams said she recently transferred to USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, saying it was “incredible” to help students and colleagues produce something “near and dear to my heart.”
“This was a connecting-the-dots project for us: The Ad Council is one of our most important industry partners, Caleb is a superstar student-athlete, and mental health is a key priority for our school community,” said Willow Bay, dean of the Annenberg School. “Having USC Annenberg students collaborate with Caleb to raise awareness of mental health is the perfect start.”
Williams is the starting quarterback at USC after transferring this offseason from Oklahoma. He opened the season with 249 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a blowout over Rice.
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