The cast of the hit show «Ted Lasso» is expected to visit the White House on Monday to discuss efforts to address mental health needs with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
According to a statement from Apple TV+, guests will include Emmy-winning comedian and actor Jason Sudeikis, who plays the show’s eponymous football coach.
The pandemic-era show often includes themes of optimism, kindness, and determination. The character Dani Rojas, a soccer professional trained by Lasso, made the saying “Football is life!” in a slogan in 2021.
Biden has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in federal, state and local efforts to better address mental health issues in the US.
Biden called the state of the nation’s mental health a crisis after the coronavirus pandemic curtailed socializing and forced many workers and children to stay home. Last year, Biden advocated for a large taxpayer investment in solutions.
The administration has invested federal money to expand mental health treatment in schools and train first responders on how to respond to people in mental health emergencies.
“Mental health affects us all,” Biden said in a statement in October. «We can and must do more to transform the way we approach mental health in America.»