Welcome to Season 10, Episode 40, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. In this week's episode, we will be discussing mental health as it relates to Junior Tennis. Specifically, we will hear from the person behind the Matt Stevenson Junior Tennis Tournament Series, Gary Poon, as he shares Matt's tragic story and how he and others have turned it into an opportunity to create a positive lasting legacy.

The Matt Stevenson Junior Tennis Tournament (MSJTT) Series is the first and only junior tennis tournament event in the country to promote the importance of mental health for adolescents. Inaugurated in 2019 in San Diego, the MJSTT has expanded to New York and Washington, D.C. for 2021. The series aims to address the national teen depression, anxiety, and suicide crisis by engaging adolescents through a sport they love and promoting dialogue and understanding of these issues.

At ParentingAces, we feel it's very important to help educate both Tennis Parents and Junior Tennis Coaches about mental health in young athletes, especially the warning signs that a child may need help. Of course, Gary Poon and his ProtoStar Foundation share that feeling and are doing some amazing work to connect players and their families with the appropriate resources while providing competitive opportunities around the US. I hope you'll watch/listen to this week's podcast then open the door to conversations with your young player(s) to help them stay on top of their own mental health as they grow and develop their tennis game.

All fees and donations from the tournaments will benefit the Matt Stevenson Junior Tennis Fund, which supports junior tennis programs in low-to-moderate income areas to help make tennis accessible to all kids and provides financial aid to promising junior tennis players. A portion of the net proceeds may also be donated to the tournament site's junior tennis programs.

For more information on the MSJTT and links to information on helping anyone struggling with their mental health, please visit https://www.speakingofsuicide.com/resources/.

As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic. If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here. And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!).

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