How Lacrosse Helped Michelle Hammer Manage Schizophrenia and Break the Stigma

Michelle Hammer is a mental health advocate, speaker, designer, and founder of Schizophrenic.NYC. A four-year NCAA lacrosse player at SUNY Oneonta, All-Conference honoree, and senior-year team captain, she was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder in college and later diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 22. Michelle shares how the structure, teammates, and a supportive coach helped her get through college, and why she believes athletes need open conversations about mental health.

We Talk About:

Playing college lacrosse while living with a misdiagnosis
How structure and a supportive coach made a difference
Lessons in discipline and resilience that carry into mental health
Breaking the stigma around schizophrenia

Michelle Hammer

Michelle Hammer is a well-known schizophrenia activist, mental health advocate, artist, and founder of the brand Schizophrenic.NYC, using her own experiences to challenge stigma and start conversations about mental health. Diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 22 after an earlier misdiagnosis, she turned her journey into purpose by creating a clothing line in 2015 that blends bold design with awareness-raising messaging. Michelle has been featured in the WebMD documentary Voices, which was nominated at the Tribeca X Festival, and her work has appeared in major outlets like Mashable and The Daily Mail, as well as on ABC, NBC, and CBS. Through videos, public speaking, and creative projects, she humanizes schizophrenia, educates audiences about living with the condition, and inspires others to look beyond stereotypes toward understanding and acceptance.

Connect With Michelle

🌐 Website: https://www.schizophrenic.nyc/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schizophrenic.nyc/
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR5_ez7c5rhC6mIpcs6tAWg
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@schizophrenic.nyc

Morgan’s Message

Morgan’s Message has a mission to amplify stories, resources, and expertise to strengthen student-athlete mental health, build a community by and for athletes through peer-to-peer conversations, and provide a platform for advocacy