Building healthier generations: On and off the court

“It’s important to realize that about half of mental health conditions show up before the age of 14,” said Don Mordecai, MD, Kaiser Permanente’s national leader for mental health and wellness.

In recognition of this fact and the importance of total health — mind, body, and spirit — Kaiser Permanente and the NBA hosted the fourth annual Total Health Forum on March 21, 2019. This year’s theme focused on physical and mental wellness of our youth today and how businesses, health care providers, community leaders, coaches, and parents can work together to build healthier generations.

Through a series of diverse panels and one-on-one conversations, WNBA and NBA legends, business leaders, and community leaders shared their personal stories of resilience and perspectives on how to inspire change in young people and our communities. Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Bernard J. Tyson; NBA Commissioner Adam Silver; Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and Vice President of Player Programs for the Miami Heat Alonzo Mourning; and Cosette Taillac, Kaiser Permanente strategy leader for mental health and wellness, also weighed in on this important topic.

Kaiser Permanente has served as the NBA’s official health care partner since 2015. Kaiser Permanente provides the NBA with research-oriented strategic consulting, health-related content, and the development of year-round health and wellness programs, including the emotional well-being, mindfulness, and stress relief programming that are part of the league’s NBA FIT, Jr. NBA, and elite youth development programs.