On May 11, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, AEG’s LA Galaxy star player and Mexico’s all-time leading international scorer, Javier “Chicharito” Hernanadez, spoke to LA Galaxy Youth Academy players, Major League Soccer employees, members of the California State Dominguez Hills women's soccer team, and AEG employees across the U.S., about Mental Health and Peak Performance. The virtual conversation which was hosted by Dr. Armando "Mondo" González, Psy.D., Founder & CEO, Cheatcode, took place at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“I hope that people can take something away from our conversation today around mental health and use it in their own lives,” says Javier “Chicharito” Hernanadez. “For me its just great to share my story. Telling my story helps me to realize new things about my life. I’m always learning, learning about myself the same as everyone else, every single day.”

Dr. Armando "Mondo" González, adds, “Its challenging and a vulnerable thing to share some of the struggles you have been through. But for me when you talk about Mental Health Awareness Month, we need to move beyond simply having banners to support ending the stigma. The next step is to have men like Javier and women continue stepping up using their star and their platform to share their stories.”

Around the world, high profile sports athletes like Javier Hernandez, Olympic gold medalist, Simone Biles, tennis champion, Naomi Osako, and five-time NBA All-Star, Kevin Love, among others, are shining a light on the challenges of high-stakes competitions and mental health. By being open about what they are experiencing, these athletes are not only prioritizing their mental health, but also helping to increase awareness around the mental health risks that competition can pose. As more athletes speak out, it gives others permission to seek help because regardless of who you are, or what you have accomplished, hiding your vulnerabilities takes a significant toll on your mental health.