Talkspace Sponsors MBA Finals Tournament in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

350 Military Athletes to Compete May 23-25 for Mental Health & Suicide Prevention

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., May 20, 2025 – Leading online behavioral healthcare company Talkspace is sponsoring the 2025 Military Basketball Association (MBA) Finals tournament in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Around 350 soldiers and veterans from military installations across the United States will compete May 23-25 in an event to raise awareness on mental health and suicide prevention. At the pinnacle of the three-day tournament, the men’s and women’s championship games will air live on Sunday, May 25 in a nationally televised broadcast on CBS Sports Network. The women’s game tips off at 5:30 p.m. EDT at Temple University’s Liacouras Center, and the men’s game tips off at 8 p.m. EDT. Philadelphians can watch the games in-person, free of charge. The MBA–Talkspace partnership was secured by Van Wagner, who manages the Military Basketball Association’s marketing and sponsorship program.

Retired Army Major Mike Meyers and First Sergeant Angel “Ace” Acevedo founded the non-profit Military Basketball Association in 2017 as a vehicle to reduce suicides and suicidal ideation, build resiliency, and provide an outlet for the trauma associated with military service.

"The Military Basketball Association is extremely honored to have Talkspace return as a sponsor for the 2025 MBA Finals. Talkspace was one of the first sponsors to commit in 2021 after COVID-19. During the pandemic, Talkspace enabled millions of people to connect with therapists for counseling at a difficult time. Preventing suicide and reducing harmful behaviors is a united effort, reinforced by Talkspace, and the services they provide to military service members and veterans. We are committed to saving as many lives as we can," said Meyers, commissioner of the MBA.

“With rates of suicide escalating among military members, it is a moral imperative that we remove barriers preventing our service members, veterans, and their families from getting the help they need,” said Katelyn Watson, chief marketing officer at Talkspace. “We are honored to be a part of the MBA’s efforts to sound the alarm, while uplifting the entire community that supports them.”

With Talkspace, people can connect with licensed therapists securely and privately from their device through live video or asynchronous messaging, which they can access conveniently any time day or night. Talkspace is now in-network with TRICARE, making care more accessible than ever.

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About MBA
Military Basketball Association (MBA) prevents veteran suicide by utilizing sports to reestablish the camaraderie soldiers experienced while serving, bridging the loneliness and lack of community that can spawn thoughts of self-harm, and showcasing the military athlete to bring awareness to post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) and the invisible wounds associated with military service. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017, MBA is a year-round tournament league supporting nearly 1,000 varsity-level athletes on 50 teams across the United States, Europe and Asia. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Talkspace

Talkspace (NASDAQ: TALK) is a leading virtual behavioral healthcare provider committed to helping people lead healthier, happier lives through access to high-quality mental healthcare. At Talkspace, we believe that mental healthcare is core to overall health and should be available to everyone.

All care offered at Talkspace is delivered through an easy-to-use, fully-encrypted web and mobile platform that meets HIPAA, federal, and state regulatory requirements. Most Americans have access to Talkspace through their health insurance plans, employee assistance programs, our partnerships with leading healthcare companies, or as a free benefit through their employer, school, or government agency.

For more information, visit www.talkspace.com.    

Media Contact: 
Military Basketball Association: Melissa Garcia, communicationsdirector@mymbaglobal.com, 720-618-7089