Eric Hipple
A former National Football League (NFL) quarterback who now devotes his life to building awareness and breaking down the stigma surrounding depressive illnesses
Price range
- $9,000 - $10,000
Expert
- Adversity
- Change
- Depression Awareness
- Inspirational
- Life Balance
- Mental Health
- Motivation
- Resilience
- Sports/Athletes
- Stress
- Suicide Prevention
- Wellness
Experience
- Education
- Sports
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About
Eric Hipple is a former National Football League (NFL) quarterback whose ten-year career was spent with the Detroit Lions. Born in Lubbock, Texas and raised in Downey California, Eric graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Business administration and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1980. Hipple’s accomplishments include two playoff bids, a divisional championship, and the Detroit Lion’s most valuable player award for the ‘81season.
From 1995-2000 Hipple was color analyst for the FOX NFL pre-game show in Detroit. Since his 15-year-old son Jeff’s suicide, Hipple has devoted his life to building awareness and breaking down the stigma surrounding depressive illnesses. Hipple received an Honorary Doctorate for his work in Mental Health from his Alma Mater while giving the commencement speech to the 2019 class at Utah State University. He also received the University of Michigan 2015 Nuebacher Award for work with stigma associated with disabilities, the Detroit Lions 2010 Courage House award, and the prestigious 2008 Life Saver Achievement award given by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He co-authored a study examining depression among retired football players, the study appeared in the April 2007 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. He was awarded a presidential citation at the American Psychological Association’s 2006 Annual Convention for his six years of national community-based work combating adolescent depression and suicide prevention.
His message of resilience has provided mental fitness awareness to professional groups, military, law enforcement, schools, communities and thousands of high school and youth coaches. In conjunction with Navy U.S. Fleet Forces, he has provided workshops on destructive behavior and suicide prevention over an eleven-year span by focusing on Mental Fitness. His book “Real Men Do Cry” received a publisher Presidential Award. After retiring from University of Michigan’s Comprehensive Depression Center, where he spent ten years as outreach coordinator, he helped found the After The Impact Fund supporting mental health treatment for NFL Legends and military veterans. Most recently, Hipple was recipient of the One Heart Award from the Detroit Has Heart Foundation and is currently working to provide Mental health awareness serving the public with emphasis on military veterans, youth and employees in the workplace. Eric’s commitment to helping others find a quality of life is demonstrated through work with nonprofit foundations and their missions.
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Video Clips
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Topics
DEPRESSION AWARENESS, SUICIDE PREVENTION AND DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR
There are those who display the classic symptoms of so-called suicidal behavior, who build up to their act over time or who choose methods that require careful planning. And then there are those whose act appears born of an immediate crisis, with little or no forethought involved. In both cases the decision to die is predicated on thoughts that joy of life no longer outweighs the unknown found in death. Feelings of worthlessness and the inability to connect with the sense of well-being can be influenced by stress, trauma, brain illness, and injury. Brain illnesses such as depression and PTS can influence one’s perception and lead to a pattern of negative thoughts and destructive behavior. An understanding of brain illness symptoms, suicide ideation and ACT works for intervention. Discussion of Mental Fitness (self-esteem, values, communication and healthy boundaries) works for prevention. The more mentally healthy one is, the better the outcomes to negative influencing factors.
Eric Hipple begins this program with his NFL story, followed by the stress and depression involved with losing his son to suicide. He transitions into Mental Fitness with the focus on preventative steps.
*Information presented has been obtained via The University of Michigan Studies and training in QPR and ASIST
Six pillars of Mental Fitness (Dr. Bryce Lefever) are taught and discussed.
1) Responsibility and recognizing choices
2) Self esteem
3) Boundaries
4) Vulnerability
5) Communication
6) CommitmentSURVIVE AND THRIVE: A QUARTERBACK’S TAKE ON MANAGING CHANGE IN A HECTIC WORLD
When change is apparent in or out of the workplace, mental fitness is a key component for managing it. It gives us the ability to care for ourselves and make sure we’re physically able to navigate the turbulent waters ahead.
We are all expected to be on the top of our game and take on the challenges that life presents to us. But managing them physically and psychologically can add another layer of stress. We are all too familiar with the stresses in life and the damage it can do to the biology and the psyche of a person. Resilience, solution oriented thinking, positive attitude and decision-making with a strong dose of purpose is the foundation for mental fitness. That doesn’t mean that things won’t go wrong, they often do in life, but just surviving is not enough, it is also about thriving.
In Eric’s engaging session, attendees will learn how to:
– Understand the 5 components of stress control
Predictability, controllability, trust, relationships, and purpose
-Navigate the pillars of mental fitness
Recognizing choices, self-esteem, boundaries, and vulnerability
– Be aware of oneself and observation of others
Utilizing the tools of mental fitness, we can live and work with the motto “Survive and Thrive”.
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Testimonials
3 people have recommended this speaker
“Afternoon session on Mental Fitness was truly outstanding. Dinner program (sports/motivation) was hilarious and told us some cool stories. He allowed us to bombard him with photo ops and hung out afterward chit chatting. His story was powerful and I’m sure it hit home with a lot of people.”
“Eric Hipple 's visit to MINOT Air Force Base was exemplary. Mr. Hipple was able to use his real-life experiences and hardships to gain attention of his audience, who may be going through similar life situations, was second to none. Many of the younger airmen had no idea of Mr. Hipple's NFL career yet alone his life experiences however, walked away with a better understanding on how to better handle different life transitions.”
“Eric's message was very relevant and relate-able with our college students. He had a great balance of identifying the signs/symptoms of depression AND asking "now what can I do about it?". Empowering, thoughtful, personable.”