Ohio State Coach Ryan Day, Wife Raise Mental Health Awareness at Columbus School

Ohio State football coach Ryan Day and his wife, Nina, have been actively advocating for children's mental health through their Day Time Break program, which provides middle and high school students with resources and lesson plans to manage mental health challenges. The couple recently spoke at Arts IMPACT Middle School, emphasizing the importance of recognizing mental health struggles early and encouraging students not to suffer in silence, sharing personal experiences including Nina's two decades living with anxiety without speaking up. Their foundation, The Kids Mental Health Foundation, and the Christina and Ryan Day Fund for Pediatric and Adolescent Mental Wellness at Nationwide Children's Hospital, support mental health awareness and research. Nationwide Children’s Hospital Executive Clinical Director Ariana Hoet highlighted the need to notice persistent sadness or anxiety in children and to start conversations before crises develop. The program aims to normalize mental health care among youth, teaching them tools to care for their mental wellbeing alongside physical health. Ryan Day stressed that despite his busy schedule, prioritizing mental health advocacy is about making a meaningful impact beyond sports.