The Defensive Line

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Coppell, TX
The Defensive Line

Su***de Lifeline 24/7: Call or Text 988
or
Text HUDDLE to 741741

Our Mission: To end the public health crisis of youth su***de, especially for young people of color, by transforming the way we communicate and connect about mental health.

08/27/2026

🏈 GAME TIME IS NOW!

Early Giving for North Texas Giving Day starts TODAY, and Team TDL is officially on the field!

This year, we’re working toward a $30,000 goal to help us put our Playbook in more hands, equip more trusted adults with su***de prevention tools, and reach more young people with the support they deserve.

Every gift moves us closer to the goal line. 💚

Join Team TDL and help us reach $30,000!

🔗 Click the link in our bio to donate today!

08/26/2026

🥳 Happy Birthday, Solomon! 🥳

A leader in the game. A leader in the movement.

Today, we’re celebrating Solomon and the passion, purpose, and dedication he brings both on and off the field.

Thank you for using your voice, sharing your story, and helping create a future where conversations around mental health are met with understanding, support, and action.

Your impact extends far beyond the game, and we’re grateful for the way you continue to lead by example and inspire others along the way.

Wishing you an incredible birthday and another year of making a difference.

08/25/2026

📅 Mark your calendars! Early Giving starts Thursday, August 27!

North Texas Giving Day is officially September 17, but you don’t have to wait until then to make an impact.

Last year, our community showed up and helped The Defensive Line raise $10,000. This year, we’re setting our sights even higher with a goal of $30,000 to help us continue expanding our su***de prevention education and reaching more communities with life-saving tools and resources.

Early Giving opens this Thursday, August 27, and every gift gets us one step closer to the goal line. 🏈💚

Save the date, spread the word, and get ready to help us reach our biggest goal yet!

08/21/2026

Recently in Washington, D.C., our CEO, Chris, represented The Defensive Line while attending the NASMHPD and Crisis Now conferences, as well as in his role as Private Sector Chair of the National Action Alliance for Su***de Prevention.

During his time in D.C., Chris was introduced to YouthLine, a youth crisis support and peer-to-peer help organization based in Portland. That connection led to an incredible opportunity for The Defensive Line to join national leaders on Capitol Hill for an important conversation about the future of youth mental health and su***de prevention.

On July 28, The Defensive Line was in the room alongside members of Congress, including Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, Tim Kaine and Mazie Hirono, as well as Representative Don Beyer. Leaders shared their own lived experiences and spoke candidly about the urgency of strengthening youth mental health and su***de prevention policy.

For The Defensive Line, being in that room was about more than having a seat at the table. It was an opportunity to help shape what comes next. As conversations around legislation for 2027 and beyond continue, we look forward to bringing our perspective, experience, and the voices of the communities we serve to the table.

We’re grateful to YouthLine CEO Dwight Holton for his leadership in bringing this group together, as well as Colleen Carr, Dr. Richard McKeon, and the National Action Alliance for their continued work in this space.

There is still so much work ahead, and we’re proud that The Defensive Line will be part of it.

08/18/2026

In honor of National Nonprofit Day and Black Philanthropy Month, we’re celebrating the power of community, collective care, and investing in the next generation. 💙

Together, we can continue building stronger lines of support for young people and their mental health.

Help us keep the impact moving forward. Donate today at the link in our bio.

08/14/2026

Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is let someone in. 💙

08/12/2026

Every young person deserves the chance to dream, grow, and build a future they can look forward to. But that starts with knowing they don't have to face life's hardest moments alone.

This International Youth Day, we recognize that while every young person’s journey looks different, the need for support, connection, and hope is universal.

We’re committed to creating communities where young people feel seen, where conversations about mental health are met with compassion instead of stigma, and where asking for help is seen as an act of strength.

When we invest in young people, we invest in hope. We invest in healing. We invest in a future where every young person knows their life matters.

Because every young person deserves more than a future. They deserve the opportunity to truly live it.

Today, and every day, we're proud to stand alongside the next generation.

08/10/2026

National Lazy Day is your reminder that rest isn't something you have to earn.

08/09/2026

📚 Happy National Book Lovers Day!

Our Co-Founder Martha loves a good book, so today she’s sharing a few favorites that have made her think, feel, and see the world a little differently. 💙

📖 You Are Here by Dr. Christopher Taylor — A thoughtful and challenging guide to vulnerability, self-discovery, and personal growth. Martha and Solomon had the opportunity to endorse the book, calling it “a valuable resource for anyone willing to undertake the journey toward self-discovery and finding our best selves.”

📖 My Friends by Fredrik Backman — A beautiful story about art, friendship, and the relationships that shape us. One line about loss especially stayed with Martha: “She didn’t die from su***de. She died from sadness.”

📖 James by Percival Everett — In Martha’s words, “a book of hope and heart,” told from a powerful perspective that has too often been overlooked and undertold.

Stories can help us feel seen, challenge the way we think, and sometimes give us the words for things we haven’t known how to say.

What’s a book that has stayed with you? Drop your recommendation below! 📚💙

08/06/2026

Our Co-Founder Chris Thomas attended AFSP's Long Term Su***de Loss Survivors of Su***de Loss Summit, joining survivors, advocates, and mental health leaders for powerful conversations centered on grief, healing, and the many experiences of su***de loss.

The summit brought together a community of people with shared experiences to exchange stories, learn from one another, and explore the many ways we can support those navigating life after loss.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect with advocates and survivors who continue to bring compassion, understanding, and lived experience to this important work. Thank you to AFSP for creating a space where stories are honored and healing is prioritized.

Address

185 W Parkway Blvd
Coppell, TX
75019-3205

Website

http://www.thedefensiveline.org/

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