UT Alumni Providing a Solution for Athlete Mental Health

Athletes are under constant pressure, making addressing their mental health of paramount importance. Two University of Tennessee, Knoxville, alumni — a psychiatrist and a former football player — have a shared passion for helping current and former athlete’s mental health and wellness, so they started Onrise.

Meeting Athletes’ Mental Health Needs

Co-founded by Derrick Furlow Jr. (UT, ‘08, ‘09) and Kim Quigley, MD, FABPN (UT, ‘01), Onrise is a service-based startup that offers athlete-specific peer support, therapy, psychiatric care and 24/7 crisis services. Its providers work with individuals and entire sports teams on the collegiate and professional levels.

Furlow. was a defensive back UT football player and saw first-hand many of his peers struggle with mental health and the transition to life after college sports.

After recognizing this struggle, he wanted to do something to help. “I really wanted to create a solution that was athlete-focused and gave the perspective of what an athlete would actually use regarding mental health care,” he says. Furlow knew it would be possible to provide this service if he had the right team.

At the same time, Quigley was a practicing psychiatrist who noticed many of her athlete clients were struggling more and more with their mental health. She knew that there had to be a better way to treat them.

“I recognized that it was very difficult for athletes to come forward for help and I wanted to help change that,” she says.

Through a mutual friend and fellow Vol, Furlow and Quigley connected and quickly recognized their common goal to find a new solution to provide mental health care for athletes. Their unique, combined perspectives created the perfect match to start Onrise.

An Organization Primed for Growth

Onrise officially launched in 2023 and has been growing rapidly ever since. Furlow serves as the chief athletic officer and Quigley serves as the chief executive officer and psychiatrist. Their team has grown to have eight leadership employees and 15 additional care and support team members.

Since launching, the organization has provided care for over 15,000 athletes who weren’t previously receiving any mental health care. Part of their growth is attributed to their unique approach. In addition to their clinical care, they offer athlete peer support that connects athletes and helps them recognize their shared experience.

Quigley and Furlow, as well as the rest of the Onrise team, are looking forward to the organization’s growth and future. “We’re growing smart, and we’re growing fast,” says Quigley. “We’re keeping our headquarters right here in Knoxville and we hope to be part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem here for many years.”

About the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, housed in the Haslam College of Business, is the front door to entrepreneurship at UT, connecting entrepreneurs and innovators at every stage with the resources, networks and expertise needed to solve real challenges. By cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset across campus, connecting entrepreneurs with resources and mentorship they need to grow and collaborating with the UT and regional ecosystem, the Anderson Center is developing an entrepreneurial culture where Volunteers are empowered to identify unmet needs and take bold action to create value through new ventures.

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CONTACT:

Brennan Hullett, brennan@utk.edu

Contact

Leah Powell

Senior Editor

lpowel20@utk.edu

Haslam College of Business - UT Alumni Providing a Solution for Athlete Mental Health