Ava MillerWhile the Detroit Pistons battle the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals this May, guard Duncan Robinson is making headlines for something that has nothing to do with his 58.3% three-point shooting clip. On May 7, 2026, the NBA and NBPA named Robinson the Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for April — recognizing his sustained commitment to youth mental health and wellness in the Detroit community.
For a city still recovering from decades of economic strain, Robinson's advocacy shines a light on a crisis that many Detroit families face daily: the silent, underdiagnosed wave of mental health struggles affecting children and teenagers.
What Duncan Robinson Is Actually Doing
Robinson has been one of the Pistons' most community-active players since joining the team. The Bob Lanier Award — which honors players who give back to their communities in the spirit of legendary Piston Bob Lanier — was presented to Robinson before Game 2 of the Cavaliers series.
His efforts have included expanding youth access to mental health resources, supporting stroke recovery advocacy, and funding programming designed to reduce stigma around mental health conversations for Detroit youth. The work reflects a broader trend in professional sports: elite athletes increasingly using their platforms to normalize mental healthcare.
"Mental health has always been a priority for me," Robinson said in a statement released by NBA Cares. "The kids in Detroit deserve access to the same resources that helped me."
Why Youth Mental Health Demands Attention Right Now
The timing of Robinson's award coincides with what the National Institute of Mental Health describes as a persistent public health concern: mental health disorders are among the most common health conditions affecting young Americans. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 1 in 5 children between the ages of 13 and 18 experiences a serious mental health condition during their formative years.
Despite this prevalence, fewer than half of those children receive any professional treatment. Barriers include stigma, cost, geographic access, and — critically — parents and caregivers who do not recognize the early warning signs.
Detroit faces an above-average burden: communities with concentrated poverty, limited healthcare access, and high rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) consistently report higher rates of youth anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders.
5 Warning Signs Every Parent Should Recognize
Mental health conditions in children and teenagers rarely announce themselves clearly. They are more likely to look like behavioral changes, academic struggles, or physical complaints that seem unrelated to emotional wellbeing. Here are the warning signs mental health professionals most frequently cite:
Persistent withdrawal: A teenager who suddenly stops engaging with friends, family, or activities they once loved — and maintains this withdrawal for more than two weeks — may be experiencing depression or anxiety, not just a temporary mood shift.
Unexplained physical complaints: Frequent headaches, stomachaches, or fatigue without a clear physical cause are among the most common signs that a child is under significant emotional stress. Children often express emotional distress through physical symptoms.
Dramatic changes in academic performance: A sudden drop in grades, difficulty concentrating, or repeated school absences that are out of character should prompt a conversation — not just with a school counselor, but potentially with a mental health professional.
Disproportionate fear or worry: Some level of anxiety is developmentally normal. Worry that is excessive, constant, and interferes with daily activities — refusing school, unable to sleep, panicking over routine situations — is not.
Risk-taking or self-harm behaviors: Any form of self-harm, talk of hopelessness, or mention of not wanting to be alive requires immediate professional evaluation. These are not phases or bids for attention. They are medical signals.
The Difference Between Support and Professional Help
Robinson's advocacy emphasizes something mental health professionals reinforce constantly: talking to your child matters, but it is not a substitute for professional care when symptoms are significant.
Community support, trusted adults, and open family conversations are valuable. But diagnosable conditions — childhood depression, generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD from traumatic experiences, ADHD — require structured assessment and treatment from a licensed professional.
The first step is typically an evaluation with a child psychologist or licensed clinical social worker, who can assess severity, identify any co-occurring conditions, and recommend an appropriate treatment pathway. This might include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), medication, school-based accommodations, or family therapy — often a combination.
Early intervention dramatically improves long-term outcomes. Research consistently shows that children who receive treatment for mental health conditions before they escalate are more likely to complete education, maintain stable relationships, and avoid substance misuse in adulthood.
Where to Start in Detroit — and Anywhere
Accessing mental health support for a child begins with knowing where to look. School psychologists can initiate a referral process. Pediatricians can screen for common conditions and refer to specialists. Community mental health centers, many of which operate on sliding-scale fees, provide accessible entry points.
Telehealth has expanded access significantly, particularly for families in areas with limited in-person providers. A licensed therapist in another city can provide effective care via video for many conditions.
ExpertZoom connects families directly with licensed mental health professionals who specialize in child and adolescent care. Whether you are seeing warning signs for the first time or navigating a child who has already received a diagnosis, expert guidance makes a measurable difference.
Duncan Robinson shoots well from three. But his biggest contribution to Detroit this season may be the conversation he is starting about what it really means to support a child's wellbeing.
