USA Fencing

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Fencing has announced a groundbreaking partnership with BetterHelp, the world's largest online therapy platform, to provide mental health support for its members.

As part of this initiative, all current USA Fencing members (of any membership type) will have access to a free month of therapy with one of BetterHelp’s licensed and trained therapists, based on their individual preferences and needs.

The partnership is part of USA Fencing's ongoing commitment to member wellness, building on the Member Wellness Program announced last year. The collaboration emphasizes USA Fencing's commitment to supporting the holistic well-being of our members, recognizing that mental health is just as important as physical training in the sport of fencing.

USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews encourages all members to treat their mental health as a priority. 

“The partnership with BetterHelp is an exciting next step in the evolution of the Member Wellness Program we announced last year,” he says. “It underlines our commitment to the mental well-being of all USA Fencing members.”

This benefit is available to all our members, as well as their loved ones.

• On May 22, 2023, members will receive an email from BetterHelp with a simple link to click in order to get started.

• Family members can easily sign up for this benefit by going to this page: www.betterhelp.com/usafencing, and use ‘996ab’ as the code to get started.

Past the first free month provided by USA Fencing, members can continue working with their designated therapist by paying out-of-pocket, with an ongoing 30% discount on BetterHelp’s subscription price.

Importantly, USA Fencing will not have access to any counseling or personal data, ensuring complete privacy for members.

The partnership aims to provide support for a broad range of mental health concerns, including forms of trauma, addiction, depression, and any diagnosed mental health disorders. The support isn't limited to issues directly related to fencing and seeks to assist any member who may be struggling.

“We’re excited and honored to roll out this partnership with USA Fencing and see great alignment between the two organizations,” added Kfir Eyal, VP of Sales and Partnerships for BetterHelp. “As mission driven and member-centric organizations, both BetterHelp and USA Fencing have the members and their needs at the center of our attention and at the heart of what we do.”

For issues relating to abuse or misconduct within fencing, members are urged to file a report through FenceSafe and/or the U.S. Center for SafeSport (learn more here).

If any member is experiencing a mental health emergency, they should immediately contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or go to their nearest emergency room.

If you are an elite athlete (meaning you have attended the FIE or IWAS World Championships, Olympic Games, Paralympic Games or Pan American Games in the past 10 years), you can also take advantage of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s mental health resources here.

USA Fencing is the national governing body for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of fencing in the United States. Our mission is to grow and promote the sport of fencing in the United States, honor its rich traditions, and achieve sustained competitive international excellence. In USA Fencing, our athletes are strong and competitive both on the fencing strip and in life — a reminder that fencing provides physical and mental benefits that last a lifetime. Learn more about USA Fencing at usafencing.org.

BetterHelp - the world’s largest online therapy service - proudly partners with Employers, Health Plans, EAPs, Schools and universities, Insurance Brokers, and Benefits Platforms, facilitating over 5,000,000 video sessions, voice calls, chats, and messages every month. We set out on a mission to make sure everyone has easy, and affordable access to therapy. Since 2013, over 30,000 licensed and accredited therapists from BetterHelp’s network have helped more than 3,500,000 people face life’s challenges and improve their mental health.

To learn more about BetterHelp for Organizations go to: www.betterhelp.com/orgs