Home / Sports / Jets Star Vilardi Opens Up on Anxiety Battles
Jets Star Vilardi Opens Up on Anxiety Battles
6 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Vilardi shares his childhood struggle with panic attacks and anxiety.
- He emphasizes seeking help early and leveraging available mental health resources.
- Vilardi uses hobbies like Lego and cold plunges to manage his mental health.
Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi is bravely sharing his lifelong journey with anxiety and panic attacks, stemming from childhood experiences. He aims to destigmatize mental health conversations, particularly within the sports world, by detailing his personal battles and the coping strategies he employs.
Vilardi recounts the onset of panic attacks around age 11, a period where he missed six months of school. Inspired by his family's "old school" Italian upbringing where mental health was rarely discussed, he sought professional help, a habit he has maintained throughout his junior and professional hockey careers.
To manage his mental health, Vilardi incorporates activities like playing arcade games, building Lego, and cold plunges, finding them effective distractions and stress relievers. He also volunteers with Project 11, a mental health initiative, to support young students in developing healthy emotional coping mechanisms.
