Owner of Indianapolis Colts to give millions to fund mental health research institute

The owner of the Indianapolis Colts is donating $3 million to fund a new mental health research institute at Indiana University, the school announced on Wednesday.

The donation, which comes from Colts owner Jim Irsay’s family, will go toward creating an institute that addresses the stigmatization of mental health, including by training more graduates to pursue careers in the field of mental health and helping inform local and federal policy on mental health, according to the school.

The institute will be named the Irsay Family Research Institute.

“The stigma surrounding mental health is a matter of life and death, and we must do everything possible to lessen that stigma and remove this obstacle to people getting the help they need,” Irsay said in a statement. “Indiana University already has been one of the world’s leaders in studying mental health, and we’re so pleased this outstanding resource is in our home state so together we can advance this important conversation.”

The initiative is a part of a broader “Kicking the Stigma” campaign that the Irsays launched in 2020 to provide more awareness for mental health. The campaign has also included a public service announcement earlier this fall that feaured actors Rob Lowe and Mike Epps and rapper Snoop Dogg.

Indiana University also noted that over $4 million was raised in May by the Colts team to fund organizations that raise visibility for mental health and provide services for treatment.

The Colts organization said in a message posted on its website that during the NFL team’s Dec. 9-12 bye week they would log off of social media and put away their electronic devices in order to prioritize themselves and their families.

“As an organization, the Colts are making a commitment to mental health and working to eradicate the stigma surrounding the illness,” the team said on its website.