Fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso used a White House visit Monday to encourage people, even in politically divided Washington, to make it a point to check in often with friends, family and co-workers to "ask how they're doing, and listen, sincerely,âComedian Jason Sudeikis, who plays the title character â an American coaching a soccer team in London â and other cast members were meeting with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden to talk about how mental health contributes to overall well-being.Mental health and looking after one another is a theme of âTed Lasso,â Sudeikis told reporters from the lectern as he helped press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre open her daily White House briefing. âWhile itâs easier said than done, we also have to know that we shouldnât be afraid to ask for help ourselves," Sudeikis said. "That does take a lot, especially when itâs something that has such a negative stigma to it, such as mental health and it doesnât need to be that way.âAnd if you can ask for that help from a professional, fantastic,â he continued. "If it needs to be a loved one, equally as good, in a lot of ways.â Mental health is part of Biden's bipartisan âunity agenda.â He has called on lawmakers to direct more resources toward fighting what some say is a crisis, and the administration has surged funding to bolster a new 988 suicide and crisis line and put more mental-health professionals in schools.Sudeikis said there should be no stigma attached to reaching out for help because everyone knows someone who has needed a shoulder to lean on, or has been that person themselves.âNo matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter who you voted for, we all probably, I assume, we all know someone who has, or have been that someone ourselves actually, thatâs struggled, thatâs felt isolated, thatâs felt anxious, that has felt alone," he said.âItâs actually one of the many things, believe it or not, that we all have in common as human beings," Sudeikis continued. âThat means it's something that we can all, you know, and should, talk about with one another when weâre feeling that way or when we recognize that in someone feeling that way.âHe issued a special appeal for people in the nation's capital.âI know in this town a lot of folks donât always agree, right, and donât always feel heard, seen, listened to," Sudeikis said. "But I truly believe we should all do our best to help take care of each other. Thatâs my own personal belief. I think thatâs something that everyone up here on stage believes in.âThe Bidens have seen some of âTed Lassoâ and are familiar with its messages of hope and kindness, according to the White House.Joining Sudeikis at the daily briefing were cast members Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt and Toheeb Jimoh. The group was given a tour of the president's private living quarters, a White House official said.As he left the briefing room, Sudeikis was asked if he would do the Joe Biden impression he used to do on âSaturday Night Live,â but he declined, saying that âthey got the real one here now."Sudeikis and the cast were the latest entertainers to visit the White House and associate themselves with issues the Democratic president and first lady are raising awareness about.Singer Olivia Rodrigo visited during the pandemic to help encourage young people like herself to get vaccinated against COVID-19. BTS, the popular Korean boy band, helped promote Asian inclusion and combat bias against Asian Americans.Actor Matthew McConaughey delivered a passionate appeal for tighter gun laws last year after the shooting at an elementary school in his hometown, Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 children and two teachers.Singer/actors Mary J. Blige and Selena Gomez participated in separate events with Jill Biden focused on cancer awareness and youth mental health, respectively, and singer Sam Smith and Cyndi Lauper performed the day Biden signed gay marriage legislation into law in December.
WASHINGTON — Fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso used a White House visit Monday to encourage people, even in politically divided Washington, to make it a point to check in often with friends, family and co-workers to "ask how they're doing, and listen, sincerely,â
Comedian , who plays the title character â an American coaching a soccer team in London â and other cast members were meeting with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden to talk about how mental health contributes to overall well-being.
and looking after one another is a theme of âTed Lasso,â Sudeikis told reporters from the lectern as he helped press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre open her daily White House briefing.
âWhile itâs easier said than done, we also have to know that we shouldnât be afraid to ask for help ourselves," Sudeikis said. "That does take a lot, especially when itâs something that has such a negative stigma to it, such as mental health and it doesnât need to be that way.
âAnd if you can ask for that help from a professional, fantastic,â he continued. "If it needs to be a loved one, equally as good, in a lot of ways.â
Mental health is part of Biden's bipartisan âunity agenda.â He has called on lawmakers to direct more resources toward fighting what some say is a crisis, and the administration has surged funding to bolster a new 988 suicide and crisis line and put more mental-health professionals in schools.
Sudeikis said there should be no stigma attached to reaching out for help because everyone knows someone who has needed a shoulder to lean on, or has been that person themselves.
âNo matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter who you voted for, we all probably, I assume, we all know someone who has, or have been that someone ourselves actually, thatâs struggled, thatâs felt isolated, thatâs felt anxious, that has felt alone," he said.
Susan Walsh
Jason Sudeikis, fourth from left, who plays the title character âTed Lasso,â speaks as he joins White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, third from left, and fellow cast members, from left, Toheeb Jimoh, Brett Goldstein, Hannah Waddingham, and Brendan Hunt, during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, Monday, March 20, 2023.
âItâs actually one of the many things, believe it or not, that we all have in common as human beings," Sudeikis continued. âThat means it's something that we can all, you know, and should, talk about with one another when weâre feeling that way or when we recognize that in someone feeling that way.â
He issued a special appeal for people in the nation's capital.
âI know in this town a lot of folks donât always agree, right, and donât always feel heard, seen, listened to," Sudeikis said. "But I truly believe we should all do our best to help take care of each other. Thatâs my own personal belief. I think thatâs something that everyone up here on stage believes in.â
The Bidens have seen some of âTed Lassoâ and are familiar with its messages of hope and kindness, according to the White House.
Joining Sudeikis at the daily briefing were cast members Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt and Toheeb Jimoh. The group was given a tour of the president's private living quarters, a White House official said.
As he left the briefing room, Sudeikis was asked if he would do the Joe Biden impression he used to do on âSaturday Night Live,â but he declined, saying that âthey got the real one here now."
Sudeikis and the cast were the latest entertainers to visit the White House and associate themselves with issues the Democratic president and first lady are raising awareness about.
Singer Olivia Rodrigo visited during the pandemic to help encourage young people like herself to get vaccinated against COVID-19. BTS, the popular Korean boy band, helped promote Asian inclusion and combat bias against Asian Americans.
Actor Matthew McConaughey delivered a passionate appeal for tighter gun laws last year after the shooting at an elementary school in his hometown, Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 children and two teachers.
Singer/actors Mary J. Blige and Selena Gomez participated in separate events with Jill Biden focused on cancer awareness and youth mental health, respectively, and singer Sam Smith and Cyndi Lauper performed the day Biden signed gay marriage legislation into law in December.