Mental Health Awareness Softball League

Ron Hazlett founded the CT Mental Health Awareness Softball League 15 years ago. He conceived of this league out of a tragic event in 1988. A mental patient on leave from a state hospital killed a young girl from CT, and Ron saw the tragedy as an opportunity to change minds about mental illness.

Ron organized a softball tournament and raised $1,500 for a camp fund in the girl’s memory. From that grew the CT Mental Health Awareness Softball League, with 9 teams across the state. In 2001, Ron was recognized as 1 of 6 coaches across the US named one of “USA Weekend’s Most Caring Coaches of 2001.”

Softball has become a perfect vehicle for continuing the mission of Fellowship Place, of promoting mental health awareness, and reducing the stigma often associated with having a psychiatric disability, focusing on member’s strengths, as opposed to their weaknesses, and helping individuals find jobs, regain stability and find valued roles in the community. The CT Mental Health Awareness Softball League was established as the 1st league to encourage socialization and promote positive public awareness for individuals with a psychiatric disability.

The league is comprised of approximately half a dozen teams, each consisting of 25 members from various psychosocial clubs across the state. The CT Mental Health Awareness Softball League is in its 15th season, directly involves approximately 200 consumers playing 8 games per season. These figures do not include the hours of preparation and planning that occur off the softball field: two to three practices per week to hone softball skills, team meetings, organizational league meetings, promotional activities, and recruitment.