Untold Stories. Unspoken Battles. Unspeakable Weight. It Affects Us All
Jordan Beasley
Behind every smile is an untold story—a story the world doesn’t see, and a story that, at times, is too painful to share and talk about.
Sometimes that smile is a sign of strength and courage. And sometimes, that smile is to hide the pain which stems from circumstances and experiences that life has left us to figure out and navigate.
Over the course of a lifetime, we’re subjected to moments, periods of time and seasons in our lives that profoundly impact us. There are times when the impact is positive in nature, and there are times when it affects our emotional well-being and mental stability.
Truth is, none of us are exempt. We’ve all battled something, and we’ve all tried to find the strength to smile in the midst of emotional strain, social isolation and complete disruption.
Untold stories. Unspoken battles. Unspeakable weight. It affects us all.
Mental Health 101
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— Boise State Broncos (@BroncoSports) September 8, 2025
Given the conjecture that surrounds mental health, it’s important to first understand what it actually is. In summation, mental health is a spectrum of wellness that impacts your overall psychological, emotional and social well-being.
The second thing that must be defined is where does it stem from? There isn’t one singular thing that impacts a person’s mental health, but genetics, biology, early-life experiences, lifestyle choices and major life events have significant impact and influence.
Unfortunately, there are so many who are in a constant fight, and there are many who battle silently. Absence of emotional safety and community, inability to express yourself, fear of being judged and the overall negative stigma are a few factors that play a key role.
The overall importance and understanding of what mental health is and how it affects and shapes us can’t be understated. For some, mental health is abstract and doesn’t exist, and for others, it’s the most important aspect of your health, but also, the most overlooked.
As individuals, we have to decide where we exist on the sliding scale. Do we want to advocate or condemn? Encourage or discourage? Champion or hinder?
September: Suicide Prevention Month
As we know, each calendar month has awareness campaigns tied to it, and September is no different. This month is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, Blood Cancer Awareness Month and National Suicide Prevention Month, to name a few.
Geared toward raising awareness, National Suicide Prevention Month is designed to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and promote resources and support services. The purpose is to spark conversation and foster support to those in need.
Contrary to what some people believe, conversation surrounding your mental health and emotional well-being isn’t weak or harmful. Silence is. One smile, one check in or one conversation could be a turning point in someone’s life.
The power of conversation—and willingness to truly listen—can be transformational and empowering. Start the conversation. Be the difference.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States and its territories. The 988 Lifeline consists of a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining local care and resources with national standards and best practices.
BroncoBOLD Student Athlete Committee
In a world where acceptance of mental health is often met with skepticism, ignorance and negative stereotypes, Boise State Athletics joined the ongoing fight. On Sept. 9, 2019—a little over six years ago—the department launched BroncoBOLD.
A program designed to showcase all aspects of the athletic department’s mental health programming for student-athletes, coaches and staff, the purpose of BroncoBOLD is to reduce stigma, raise awareness and build resilience around mental health in athletics. From 2019 to present day, BroncoBOLD has far exceeded the walls of Boise State Athletics and has become a movement across the state.
“What began as a student-athlete initiative now reaches thousands of students across Southern Idaho,” said Stephanie Donaldson, assistant athletic director, athletic counseling and mental performance. “Even with our growth, we’ve stayed true to our original mission. BroncoBOLD isn’t just about saying ‘mental health matters’ or wearing green awareness ribbons—it’s about creating a cultural shift in how we talk about mental health.”
By way of education, outreach and community engagement, BroncoBOLD’s overarching mission is to make sure people know where to go for help, and, most importantly, that they are valued. To ensure BroncoBOLD continues well after its founding class, the next goal is to deepen the impact statewide and empower students to start conversations earlier.
One of the unsung parts of BroncoBOLD is its student-athlete committee. In conjunction with passion for mental health, Donaldson—and those closely associated with BroncoBOLD—work closely with coaches, athletic trainers and academic advisors to identify those who not only show leadership but also represent a variety of teams, backgrounds and experiences.
Consisting of returning members who provide continuity, this year’s committee features new voices who’ve brought fresh ideas. With full commitment to advocacy, the 2025-26 BroncoBOLD student-athlete committee is diverse and different, but they all have the same goal in mind.
“Our committee really is the face of BroncoBOLD,” Donaldson added. “They bring ideas to life and serve as spokespersons for the program. They attend and promote events, mentor our high school ambassadors and are present at assemblies. By speaking openly and leading by example, they help normalize conversations about mental health across campus and in the community.”
Champions of mental health and BroncoBOLD, four student-athletes wanted to share their personal experiences. Their vulnerability was eye opening, but their maturity in understanding the bigger picture was equally impressive.
This guide is a comprehensive collection of local and online mental health resources available to the general public.
Mya Hansen: A true mental health advocate
For many, sports are a source of entertainment. Whether it’s gathering around the TV in the fall to watch football or spending discretionary income to attend a sporting event in person, sports serve as an outlet for many people.
What we don’t realize is our source of entertainment and can the foundation of another person’s struggle. Focused on their craft and desired success, athletes often times don’t understand themselves as a person because their entire identity is centered around their athletic performance.
The beauty of sports is it has the potential to help athletes escape from everyday life. However, Mya Hansen, a senior guard on Boise State’s women’s basketball team, shares a potential downside.
“Because we’re so locked in to our physical performance, there are times when our mental well-being becomes secondary. When we start overly concerning ourselves with our performance on a playing surface, we neglect to ask how does this affect us mentally.”
In high school, most people participate in athletics for the love of sports, but in college, athletics can feel like a job given the new landscape and introduction of NIL. Hansen noted that basketball became an identity, which untimely didn’t serve her.
“Entering my sophomore year, I reached a very hard point in my life. I was connecting my identity only to basketball, and it made me struggle on and off the court. I wasn’t fulfilled and felt no one would accept me as a person or as a player.”
Prior to Boise State, Hansen didn’t fully understand the mental aspect of playing a sport—only the physical. Once she realized that her mental health impacted her as a person and her play on the court, she became an advocate. That’s how she connected with Donaldson and BroncoBOLD.
Through Donaldson’s leadership, she helped Hansen understand two things: mental health is a daily battle and it’s not unique to any one person.
“Stephanie was so supportive. She listened and helped me gather solutions. Mental health is a daily battle, and we’re trying to win those little battles and turn them into one big success.”
According to Hansen, being vulnerable and willing to share your individual story is one of the best ways to bring awareness. In moments when she tried to suppress her feelings and shut them out, Hansen had friends, family, teammates and coaches who encouraged her to be vulnerable which helped her overcome mental hurdles.
Described as a caring, compassionate person, Hansen uses BroncoBOLD to help the next person. In her final year on campus, her goal is to be a listening ear and be a light for those that are currently in the dark.
“There’s nothing more gratifying than looking back at your past and knowing you’ve overcome something. I’ve been through something difficult, I’ve come out of something difficult, and now, I want to help others in their difficulty.”
As we seek light at end of our respective tunnels, Hansen wanted to share these words: You are worthy. You have purpose. You are enough.
Jayden Virgin-Morgan: Team captain and NFL hopeful
Team captain. All-Mountain West performer. 2025 multi watch list honoree. Future NFL hopeful.
Why would a successful student-athlete with a demanding schedule and bright future decide to add more to his plate and join BroncoBOLD. When asked the question, redshirt junior EDGE Jayden Virgin-Morgan’s response was immediate.
“It’s not about self; it’s about being selfless,” he said. “I decided to join because I thought it was a great opportunity to spread awareness and come together with other student-athletes, including the ones on my team, and the BroncoBOLD committee. I truly want people to know they are not alone.”
Virgin-Morgan is a pleasant reminder that you don’t have to have a heartbreaking story or set of circumstances to be an advocate of mental health. You just have to be a compassionate person who wants to make a difference and give unto others.
The demands and expectations of student-athletes are very pronounced, and it comes with massive responsibility and a robust platform for some. As a 22-year-old young man, Virgin-Morgan understands the magnitude of his platform, but also that he’s just like everyone else—human.
“I’m cognizant that my voice and platform can have a very big impact. That said, I’m not a superhero by any means. I have times of struggle just like the next person. Athletes go through the same thing. It’s not just you—it’s all of us.”
That level of self-awareness is what has allowed Virgin-Morgan to stay grounded and rooted despite what he currently has on his plate. Given the pressure and expectations, it’d be understandable if it affected Virgin-Morgan negatively, but actually, it’s a nonstarter.
“I have to stay in the moment and remain true to myself despite the demands and stress. I won’t let it overtake me. Being my normal self and continuing to be the happy and uplifting person I am is important to me.”
Often times, we underestimate the battles an athlete goes through, which profoundly speaks to how we view and see them. Though Virgin-Morgan enjoys supporting and holding space for those in need, he understands that there at times when his cup needs to be filled.
Coming to that realization in the infancy stages of his adult life is more than impressive. Through that, Virgin-Morgan quickly identified the power of community and that his family, who he describes as his ‘why’, is all he needs.
Building off a 10-sack season in 2024, success is most certainly in Virgin-Morgan’s future. There’s no debating that. But spreading love and knowing that he is loved will carry him farther than any quarterback sack ever will.
Javan Buchanan: Reigning Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year
Entering his second season at Boise State, Javan Buchanan has quickly become a recognizable face and has emerged as a leader. The Indiana Wesleyan transfer can best be descried as one of the more respectful, humble, charismatic, caring and thoughtful young men you’ll ever meet.
In his first year with the team, Buchanan earned Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year honors, making him the first Bronco to garner the distinction since 2018. Now a senior, Buchanan is primed for a breakout and impactful year, both on and off the court.
Those who closely follow Boise State are acutely aware of Buchanan’s on-court talents. What you may not realize is the passion he has for basketball is similar to his advocacy for mental health.
Last year, Buchanan watched O’Mar Stanley, his teammate, proudly serve on the BroncoBOLD student-athlete committee, which is one of the many reasons why he wanted to get involved. He also wanted to spread awareness, impact young people and clear up a common misnomer.
“I think we’re looked at as glorified figures and are somewhat robotic because most people only see us on TV,” Buchanan said. “Most people assume we don’t have feelings, and it’s good to show people that we’re still human. We may be really good at our individual sports, but we all have weaknesses and things we struggle with.”
Though he had immense success, Buchanan dealt with his fair share of adversity in the form of an injury that affected him during the season and sidelined him for a significant period of time in the offseason. Having not experienced a ton of injuries in his lifetime, battling through and overcoming something unfamiliar put him in a “different space” mentally.
In times of trial and tribulation, we have differing methods to help us get through the things that plague us. For Buchanan, he simply leaned on his source of strength.
“Me personally, it was my faith in God, which has gotten me this far. When I’m feeling down, I try not to fight those feelings. I’ve taught myself that you have to accept them, and acceptance is the first step.”
While in our darkest days, how we perceive our circumstance and situation has the ability to make a world of difference. Beyond acknowledgement and acceptance, it was Buchanan’s perspective and gratitude—even in his lowest moments—that played a pivotal role as he rehabbed throughout the summer.
“No matter what we face as individuals, there’s someone fighting a similar battle or a bigger battle. Giving myself and supporting others helped me in ways I can’t describe.”
Vulnerability, taking care of yourself and seeking support could be the elixir. We’re taught to be tough, but at the end of the day, we’re still human.
For those that are struggling and in search of hope and light, Buchanan provided a simple but powerful message:
“Don’t let your situation have dominion over you. Know that you are loved, and that there will always be people who love you.”
Maddux Madsen: QB1
In a world where we engage in debate on almost any topic, there’s one that most reasonable people can agree on. The quarterback position is the most scrutinized and pressure-laden position in all of sports.
Leader, excellent decision maker, high IQ and calm under duress are a couple characteristics needed to succeed at the position. One trait we don’t hear about as often is confidence because we automatically assume that every quarterback has an abundance of it.
For Boise State redshirt junior quarterback Maddux Madsen, confidence wasn’t an issue until adversity struck during his redshirt freshman season in 2023. He finally earned what he’d been fighting for, only for it to come to sudden halt.
“I was fighting for a spot all year in 2023,” said Madsen. “I finally earned the starting quarterback job in Week 10, and at the end of the first half, I tore my MCL and PCL. Had to get surgery and it broke my confidence.”
Missing the remainder of the season, Madsen returned for the start the 2024 campaign, where he led the team to a 12-2 record and the first College Football Playoff appearance in program history. Despite the on-field success, Madsen silently dealt with fair share of issues that affected him.
As the team’s quarterback and leader, Madsen felt he needed to bring energy and juice every day while dealing with his own internal issues. Once he stopped pretending to be OK and sought help, he finally found his stride.
“I experienced injury, and because of that, I talked to Stephanie [Donaldson] fairly often. We built a relationship, and in time, I wanted to share my thoughts and experiences with others. Doing that was a no-brainer because of what she did for me and how she and BroncoBOLD helped change my confidence.”
Speaking up, utilizing available resources and establishing positive self-talk restored Madsen’s confidence and propelled him into the player and person we see today. Given his position and standing as the signal caller for a prominent football program with immense and rich history, Madsen knows he must be an example and role model.
The only way Madsen can serve others is if he’s operating as his full self. With his confidence higher than ever before, Madsen is grateful for BroncoBOLD.
“There are so many people out there that can help and are qualified to help. Seeking help is instrumental, and it’s a sign of strength.”
It’s said that the worst enemy of happiness is doubt, but confidence is contagious. BroncoBOLD helped restore that confidence in Madsen, which, in turn, will help him be the QB1 his team, campus and community needs.