Indianapolis, Indiana – In a heartfelt recognition of her lifelong commitment to mental health research and advocacy, Indiana University Distinguished Professor of Sociology Bernice Pescosolido has been named the inaugural Jim Irsay Mental Health Champion. The honor, established by the Indianapolis Colts and their Kicking the Stigma initiative, highlights individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary strides in improving mental health awareness and support.
The new award is named in memory of the late Colts owner Jim Irsay, whose personal openness about his struggles inspired a movement that continues to reshape how people talk about mental health in Indiana and across the country. It recognizes those who are not just researchers or advocates, but true changemakers who help break down the barriers of silence and misunderstanding that often surround mental illness.
Pescosolido’s selection as the first recipient comes as little surprise to many who know her work. A trailblazer in the field of medical sociology, she serves as the director of IU’s Irsay Institute, which focuses on research that bridges the social sciences and public health. The institute itself was founded in 2021 through a gift from the Irsay family, reflecting their shared mission to advance mental health understanding and erase the stigma that still exists.
“In addition to being one of the world’s foremost experts on stigma in mental health and a dedicated professor at IU, Bernice has been an invaluable resource to Kicking the Stigma and our efforts to change the dialogue around mental health,” said Kalen Jackson, Colts co-owner, chief brand officer and president of the Colts Foundation. “Her work focuses on discovering evidence-based solutions to the mental health challenges faced by so many of our friends and neighbors, and she is more than deserving of this recognition.”
The partnership between Pescosolido and the Colts organization runs deep. As the scientific adviser for Kicking the Stigma, she has helped guide the initiative’s evidence-based approach to addressing the root causes of mental health stigma. Her expertise has provided a scientific backbone to a campaign driven by compassion and personal experience, helping ensure that advocacy efforts translate into real, measurable impact.
Her contributions to the field stretch back decades. In 1996, Pescosolido led the first major study of mental health stigma in the United States in more than 40 years. That groundbreaking research not only shed new light on how the public perceives mental illness but also helped inform national policy discussions, including the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health and the 2013 White House Conference on Mental Health.
Today, her influence extends far beyond the classroom and the lab. She advises both national and international organizations on how to combat mental health stigma through science-based strategies, education, and public engagement. She also helped establish the Indiana Consortium for Mental Health Services Research, an effort that continues to bring together scholars, clinicians, and policymakers to find effective, equitable solutions for mental health care.
“Bernice’s recognition as the inaugural Jim Irsay Mental Health Champion is a testament to her groundbreaking research and the extraordinary impact she has had on this critical issue,” said IU President Pamela Whitten. “IU is committed to advancing mental health education and care, and we are grateful for Bernice’s leadership, advocacy and dedication to improving the lives of countless individuals and families in Indiana and beyond.”
For Pescosolido, the award carries personal meaning, not just professional recognition. “I think any light that shines on this, if it can change one person’s ideas or have one person seek help, that’s great,” she said.
Her decades of research have shown how deeply stigma is rooted in American culture. According to national studies conducted at IU, about 50% of Americans still express prejudice toward people with mental health conditions. Despite progress, those findings remind her that the work is far from finished.
On October 3, Pescosolido accepted the award — a shimmering glass sculpture shaped like the Colts’ signature horseshoe — during Kicking the Stigma’s annual fundraising event in Indianapolis. The event served as both a celebration of her achievements and a continued call to action for those fighting the social and systemic challenges surrounding mental illness.
Kicking the Stigma was launched in 2020 by Jim Irsay and his daughters, expanding on the NFL’s My Cause, My Cleats program. Since its inception, the initiative has committed more than $32 million to advancing research, expanding access to care, and raising public awareness about mental health across Indiana and the nation.
“I don’t think there’s any group that has shown more courage in standing up against the stigma of mental illness than the Colts franchise, and in particular for Jim Irsay himself to come out of the shadows and talk about his experience,” Pescosolido said. “I think it means a great deal to people who face mental health challenges and their families.”
Ironically, Pescosolido’s journey into mental health research was not something she originally planned. As a medical sociologist, she began by studying how individuals and communities cope with different types of health problems. But as her research deepened, she found herself drawn to the social forces that made mental health issues uniquely misunderstood — and often unfairly marginalized.
“The more I got into it, the more I realized that mental health needs champions,” she said, noting the significance of World Mental Health Day on October 10.
Her studies have revealed a striking imbalance in how society approaches health funding and advocacy. While mental health disorders affect roughly the same number of Americans as cancer, Pescosolido points out that they receive only about one-tenth of the financial support from foundations, donors, and research institutions.
“The more I saw how unfair the playing field is for people, families and communities that face mental health problems, the more I wanted to help or to do something that would be useful,” she said.
That desire to make a difference — to turn data into action, and stigma into understanding — is what defines Pescosolido’s legacy. Her work continues to shape not only the academic world but also the public conversation about what it means to live with, or care about someone with, a mental health condition.
In receiving the inaugural Jim Irsay Mental Health Champion award, Bernice Pescosolido joins a growing movement of voices determined to bring compassion and evidence together in the fight for better mental health. For her, the honor is not an endpoint, but a call to keep going — to keep shining that light a little brighter for the next person who needs it.
