Shannon Ryan on bringing his Mental Health First Aid certification to his college cheerleading community
The room behind Shannon Ryan in our Zoom call felt simple but personal, reflecting small details about who Shannon Ryan is. He sat at a table with posters behind him, including artwork from Resident Evil and a Pulp Fiction poster, which gave the space a relaxed and familiar feel. His voice matched the environment, calm, steady, and easy to follow. As he talked about his experience, he spoke with confidence and enthusiasm, sometimes pausing before answering difficult questions. The conversation felt natural instead of formal, which made his story come across in an honest and personal way.
During our interview with Shannon, he reflected on how his own experiences exposed him to the stigma surrounding mental health and influenced the way he understands and supports others. As the conversation continued, he explained how both his background and personal challenges shaped his perspective on how he hopes to bring his skills as a certified Mental Health First Aider to his communities.
As a triracial American who identifies as Black, you describe your community in which “mental health is a falsehood or a fairy tale.” You also touched on your sport, wrestling, in which you said, “suffering is considered normal, and it’s expected of you to push through mental and physical injury for the sake of sport.”
SR: Growing up and understanding the Black community as a whole, there’s a lot of stereotypes in our community that kind of reign true, even today, within the way that we see ourselves. I was just talking with a friend about this, who’s also half Black, literally the other week.
She said to me, “I’m gonna talk to my therapist about this,” and I made the joke where I was like, “Girl, you know Black people don’t believe in therapy,” and she laughed and agreed. She was like, “that’s so true, that’s how my family sees things.”
So there’s sort of always been in my community this distrust of mental health awareness and mental health as a whole, because we haven’t been afforded the opportunities to learn more about our mental health, or seek outside support. Instead, we’ve mostly had to rely on supporting one another within the community itself.
Growing up, I was not aware of mental health as a larger thing. I didn’t really know much about it. [B]ack on the East Coast, it was sort of a buzzword kind of thing. Learning more about it as our society has grown to accept mental health, has led me to understand that the community I’m coming from has a great level of distrust in a lot of the things being said, because of things like the Tuskegee Syphilis Trials. There’s always been a great level of distrust [against medical professionals] in my [Black] community for those reasons.
That’s why I had to learn a lot about mental health, especially with the Mental Health First Aid training. Learning how to talk about it was a big thing for me, just because… Again [during training] there was this thought in the back of my head where it’s like, “oh, well, [my community] don’t believe in that.” Or, “part of my family doesn’t believe in that,” but mental health is a real thing, and it’s something important to understand.
On cheerleading and mental health
SR: I’ve had the privilege of cheerleading, both on a team where we’ve never won, and a program in which we’ve won 56 times. Something that reigns true in the sport itself, is that you can get injured, but you have to keep going. One of the things that I’ve been told by someone in my time cheerleading is that we can be complainers, but we can’t be quitters. Sort of like this understanding that you can complain about your situation, but at the end of the day, you need to sweep it under the rug. It doesn’t have a place inside of practice, or when we’re in the middle of nationals.
I’ve known people throughout my time who have been injured. One great example is we were always told in high school this story. I won’t give many details, but it’s about a girl who was on-mat competing, and she vomited in her uniform and kept going, so that we wouldn’t get deducted, and we were told that’s the expected standard.
Shannon confidently stands with one hand on his hip, and one raised in the air displaying the University of Washington’s signature “W” hand sign. Photo courtesy of Shannon Ryan
In high school, I suffered a facial impact injury, which has left me unable to feel pain in my face due to a series of surgeries I had to undergo. Leading up to that, I would go to my coach saying, “hey, I’m not feeling well,” and I would be encouraged to walk it off. “Walk it off, it’s fine.” And that’s the sort of thing that was true for mental health. Your injuries you incur in this sport […] they’re not for others to know about. It’s very encouraged to be hush-hush about things, but there are many coaches I have met who don’t encourage being quiet about it, and instead, give people that space.
But our sport is a very fast-paced one that’s very competitive, so it’s hard to take time for yourself within cheerleading, because there’s always someone who’s ready to take your spot. We have routines where there’s people on-mat, and there’s alternates, and there’s always that fear in the back of your head, “if I take a mental health day, will I lose everything I’ve worked so hard to get to?,””will I be pushed out of this routine?,””will I have to work twice as hard to get back in?,” And so I’ve known a lot of people, including myself, who’ve neglected their mental health, and suffered with severe depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and more, just because of the pressure surrounding our sport.
I’ve known coaches who, quite disgustingly, have lined girls up by their weight, and given them eating disorders, saying things like, “you’re too big,”“you shouldn’t look this way,” or “why don’t you have a six-pack like this other girl?” Like a lot of these other athletic programs, it is one in which you’re driven very hard, but at the same time, mental health is even less accepted within it.
Sports like football, and basketball, and those alike are very tough mentally, but at the same time, a lot of the schools you go to will have team doctors, team counselors, people for you to really reach out to. Unfortunately, every [cheer] team I’ve been on has not had someone dedicated to us specifically for that, or it’s not encouraged to take care of your mental health.
Let’s talk about ALGEE, because Algee is such a big part of Mental Health First Aid. When you’re dealing with ALGEE the first thing you want to do is “Assess.” What are some signs and symptoms that you would look for in your community to see if a person is maybe suicidal?
SR: Both of my communities are very close-knit. The Black community and cheerleading community are very similar in the aspect that relying upon one another, like your teammate, or your family, is such an integral part of the culture.
Oftentimes, I’ve been able to notice people’s shifts, because they will become less sociable. They’ll stop reaching out to you as much, they’ll stop confiding in you as much, they’ll become more reserved. I’ve seen some of the most outgoing people suddenly shy away from wanting to talk about anything. We saw that in the video in the MHFAMFHA course, where the [suicidal] father gave away his stuff. I’ve had people give me their things, or do certain things for me that were out of character. I think the most important thing to do is try to talk to them about it in the most non-confrontational way you can, and see what’s going on. Try to let them know that you’re there for them. Let them know that there’s people who can help them. I think it’s very important that we give reassurance to people, rather than confronting them.
You shouldn’t say things like, “Why are you giving me all your stuff?,”“this is not like you,”“don’t you love this stuff so much?”
You should be calmer about it, and say things like, “Do you want to talk about anything?”, “Is there something going on?”, “I’ve noticed a little bit of a change in you”, ”I there anything that I can do to help?”, and in terms of people who might be in active suicidal ideation, ”Instead of giving your stuff to me, why don’t we talk about a way we could store it somewhere safely so that you can come back to it?”
I think, especially with [my] Black community. I’ve noticed my community responds very poorly to that confrontational, or run-up style approach, where you approach somebody aggressively. It’s very important to let them know that you’re not trying to come at it with the intention of being their savior, or the intention of doing something for your own benefit. You’re trying to truly help them, or you’re actually genuinely interested in what’s going on with them, and what they need to feel more seen or heard.
Side shot of Shannon holding up a “Huskies” megaphone while cheering on the Huskies at Husky Stadium. Photo courtesy of Shannon Ryan.
So we talked about asking two questions in MHFA. The two questions are, “are you thinking about suicide?,” or, “are you thinking about killing yourself?” Have you ever asked those questions before?
SR: I have. When I was really young, I had a friend, who suffered [with mental health], and I came to the point where I asked, “Are you suicidal?” And I think, for me, after asking such a hard question, I didn’t really know how to follow it up. You could tell that the answer they gave in response was not the answer that they really honestly wanted to share with me. It was very defensive, and I think I should have done more to see why they gave that sort of response, rather than just taking them at their face-value.
We learned that just because somebody says no to that question doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not in danger. What are the reasons somebody might say no, even if they are suicidal?
SR: Some of the reasons somebody might say no are for reasons we might think are silly. Especially with being part of the Black community, I know some people who suffer with suicidal thoughts, who are afraid to admit that, because it’s seen as a sort of weakness. There’s not a great understanding for what suicidal ideations really are, or where someone is in the point in their mental health journey to start having those thoughts. Some people are just so scared that even though they’re contemplating ending their own life, they’re still so worried about how they’re going to be perceived after they die, or how their family’s going to internalize that. These are thoughts like, “I don’t want them to think I was weak,””I don’t want them to think I’m this, that, or the third.” A lot of people also get defensive because they themselves haven’t actually come to the full conclusion that they want to kill themselves.
Asking people how do you plan to do it, or asking them for details lets you know that you can still stop it. People who really know what they’re going to do have no problem sharing, or will be somewhat defensive. If someone is extremely defensive, that usually means that you’re still able to get through to them, and make them truly think about what it is that they’re trying to do.
One of the big myths of suicide prevention is that if you talk about it, then you’re putting the thought in their head, is that true?
SR: That is not true. Oftentimes, talking about it is not the first time that person’s thought about it. You’re not gonna suddenly put this life-ending choice into someone’s brain, as we learned. A lot of times, you’re getting them to honestly think about it. Saying that out loud, “I want to kill myself,” is a lot deeper than thinking it. Thinking is where bad things can happen.
We talked about how once we recognize that somebody is suicidal, we [Mental Health First Aiders] don’t try to handle it ourselves. What are some things you can do to get them to professional help? What would you do if you learned a member of your community is suicidal?
One of the big things I would do is not just provide them with the number of a doctor or resource, but honestly approach it in a way that says, “I know you’re struggling, and I know we’ve talked about this, but how about I help you set up a doctor’s appointment, or I take you to there, and we reflect on the aftermath of it together, because I’ve been here with you through the journey.”
I think it’s really important when you help somebody get professional help, not to walk away from them, but to help them understand that you’re still there for them every step of the way, and that they’re not alone. You’re there if they want you there. You’re going to be somebody who makes sure they make their appointment, helps them get there, or just reassures them that what they’re doing is okay.
Let’s get back to ALGEE. We talked about how ALGEE is most effective in non-crisis situations. Suppose you noticed a member of your team has started to withdraw a bit, but is still showing up to practice. How would you approach that person if you suspected they were struggling (with mental health)?
SR: I have actually had to deal with this with some of the people I’ve known throughout my time in cheer. The way that I’ve often gone about it is I would approach them, acting how I am normally. I never want to make them think they’re in trouble, or something’s going on. I would approach them in a pretty normal fashion, and I would try to talk to them. I would try to get them to have an honest conversation, I would see how they’re feeling, and I would really try to probe into those feelings, and give them reassurance about how things are going at practice.
Would you approach them in front of the team, or would you approach them in private?
SR: It’s important to approach somebody in an environment they’re comfortable with… It’s better to approach someone in less of a populated area, just so that if it is something deeply personal, and they don’t want others to hear about it, they don’t have to. But It’s important to approach them one-on-one, or with their close support network, and listen non-judgmentally… you really want to listen, and I think that’s something I should have done better in the past that I’ve learned from this course. Do more listening, and less quickly interjecting when they’re telling you how they’re feeling… I think a big part of it is just letting someone get whatever it is they’re feeling off their chest.
Let’s talk about giving reassurance and information. What information did you receive from the training that you think would be helpful? What’s the difference between giving information and giving advice?
SR: For me, giving information is providing them with resources like a [phone] number, or a doctor, while giving advice is going a step further with suggestions like, “here’s what I think you should do,” or “here’s how I would go about it,” sort of thing.
I think the kind of information I would give them are support helplines. I have had a lot of friends who deal with sexual orientation-based mental health, so I would, for example, give them information on the Trevor Project, who is there for suicidal teens, and deal with a lot of that type of stuff. Or I would provide them with the number of a doctor, or someone I know who’s a good mental health professional. During our training, we also learned about the 988 number [the universal, three-digit dialing code in the United States and Canada that connects individuals directly to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline]. Which is another helpful resource to have.
We talked about appropriate professionals and even went over a couple resources that you mentioned. As far as self-help, what are some things you do for self-care other than engage in cheer?
SR: One of the things I personally do for my own mental health, which may seem silly to some people, is I do a lot of affirmations… a lot of writing and stuff. I also do a lot of journaling, and then on the more religious side, I do a lot of prayer, self-contemplation, and talking with my own religious beliefs… to help understand my feelings and de-stress (see NAMI’s article on Faith and Spirituality).
Another great thing I like to do is kind of workout-related. I love to do yoga. I just feel like yoga is a really great mental health release to put on some ambient music and just think about what’s going on in my life while stretching. It honestly helps me feel more in tune with myself, and to help me cope with the things I’m going through. I’ve been through a lot in my life also, so I feel like journaling really does help.
Writing and having a close friend with whom you can share things with has always been a very big part of my life, just because I used to bottle everything up inside myself.
And my former method, which is not great, is I used to try to forget things that would happen to me, and that sort of thing is not good for your brain or for your body.
In terms of how you’re different since before taking Mental Health First Aid training, you mentioned how you used to have trouble listening non-judgmentally. Since MHFA training, what have you learned about the importance of silence as a tool?
SR: I learned that silence a lot of the time can make or break someone’s situations. A lot of people going through mental health crises already are having such strong internal battles, that they don’t really need to be bombarded by you interjecting this, that, and the third at them.
Being silent and allowing them to fully unburden themselves, and truly place into words how they’re feeling is just so powerful. Helping somebody fully understand what it is they’re going through, and not interjecting will allow them to feel like it is a safe space to do so, and that you’re truly someone who wants to listen to what’s going on, and you care more about them as a person than just someone in danger.
Accessibility caption: Shannon is outside wearing a striped collared shirt, a backward black and red snap-back, and purple and gold UW backpack, with his arms raised out to the sides in a showy manner. Photo courtesy of Shannon Ryan.
How do you think this training will help you be a better manager or coworker?
SR:This training is going to help me be a better manager, or someone in an elevated role, just because I’ll have the understanding [of MHFA training]. It’ll also help me use that skill of non-judgmentally listening to know how people are doing, how they’re feeling in the office, how they feel about the way things are done, and how to make adjustments accordingly. It’ll also help me understand where employees are coming from, because oftentimes, people who deal with work-related stress feel very unsupported by those in management, or feel like those in management have this disconnect with their staff. Having a manager that’s present, clearly involved, and wanting to listen to their staff’s complaints is something that really will make or break [a team].
What was your favorite part of the training, or what do you think was the most useful part of the training?
SR: I think the most useful part of the training was honestly the part where we got in groups, and after watching the video of the older man that was suicidal, we had to say those questions [do you want to kill yourself? do you have thoughts about suicide?] out loud to each other. It was silly in the moment, but at the same time, very powerful, because it was important practice to ask that. I think something that seems so silly, like saying it more, will help you feel much more desensitized to asking that question later, rather than it feeling like something taboo that shouldn’t be broached in conversation.
I know you mentioned a couple scenarios that you used as an example, but was there a specific personal experience or moment that motivated you to become a Mental Health First Aider, or helped shape your interest in mental health advocacy?
SR: Yes. I’m a victim of childhood sexual assault. That was a very big thing for me to deal with, and I sort of went years without addressing that to anybody, never seeking mental health, which left me in a very dark place in my life.Ironically, through cheer, I learned how to talk about my feelings. I will honestly say it’s cheerleading and caring for others more that led me to care more about my mental health, just because I used to tell myself, “Just smile and everything will be fine.”
I realized, after being with other teammates, that I was not the only person struggling with anything personally, even in my own family, and so mental health became a more important thing to me. When I saw the extra credit opportunity to get the mental health training, I pretty much leaped at it, because I thought that was something very important, and I feel like it’s a skill in the business world as well that is very underutilized.
I feel like we [business professionals] are very focused on the idea of just making money at any cost, rather than understanding how people are handling things. I think it’s extremely important to take stock of how people are doing mentally, not just physically. I feel like we think about taking sick days only when you’re feeling sick physically, but it’s super important to take care of your mental health, because that, at the end of the day, is who you are. That’s not just your body, that’s something that has even more repercussions than breaking a leg.
And, just one more follow-up question. So, how has your understanding of mental health changed since taking the training? Following the training, do you have a difference in how you approach mental health, or how you see it?
SR: I would say I take it more seriously now. Even before, I think I still took it with a bit of that grain of salt mentality, which comes from my upbringing, but I think I approach it with much more severity.
[Mental health struggles] are a very serious thing that people go through, and I need to take it as seriously as someone like an emergency responder would. You shouldn’t be freaked out, but you should be willing to listen and help. I try not to think of it as a burden anymore, or like I’m doing this and it’s wasting my time, because it’s not. It’s helping somebody else. I think I just have a very much more serious outlook on mental health following the training.”
From Shannon’s responses, our team learned that mental health is strongly shaped by both culture and environment. He explained that in his community, mental health is often dismissed or not fully understood, which can make people hesitant to speak up or seek help. A powerful part that stood out to me in the interview is how Shannon approaches his teammates and looks for tells in case they’re going through anything. At the same time, his experience in cheerleading showed a different kind of pressure, where individuals are expected to push through physical and mental strain to maintain their position and performance. This combination of expectations can lead people to hide what they are going through or withdraw from others. What stood out most was how he chooses to respond differently by approaching others in a calm and supportive way, listening in a non-judgmental manner, and focusing on listening rather than immediately trying to fix the situation. He also emphasized the importance of being present and consistent, even helping others take steps toward professional support rather than leaving them to handle it alone. These insights showed us that effective support is not just about recognizing when someone is struggling, but about responding in a way that builds trust and encourages openness.
Readers should take small, but intentional steps to support the people around them. This can include taking the time to check in on friends or teammates, listening without interrupting or judging, and creating space for honest con. This can include checking in on friends or teammates, listening without interrupting or judging, and creating space for honest conversations about mental health. Instead of trying to immediately solve problems, it is more important to be present and supportive. Even a simple conversation or question can make a difference. Leaders who openly support mental health can also encourage others to do the same. When people see kindness and understanding from leaders, they may feel more comfortable asking for help and supporting others around them. Creating an environment where others feel safe to talk can help reduce stigma and encourage more open conversations. Helping others find resources or simply letting them know they are not alone can leave a meaningful impact on someone who’s struggling. Sometimes, even small support can make someone feel cared for and understood. Being there for others can have a powerful impact on their mental health and well being.