Athletes experience mental health symptoms at similar rates to the general population, however their developmental stage and performance level can create different athlete specific risk factors (concussions, performance failure, over training). Athletes also experience typical risk factors for poor mental health such as negative life events, trauma, and insufficient sleep (Purcell, Gwyther & Rice, 2019).
Maintaining overall mental wellbeing has been a struggle for many, athletes included, during COVID. In a recent NCAA Student-Athlete COVID-19 Wellbeing report not only was this need level confirmed but “participants indicated they would generally look to coaches as their primary source of information related to training, physical wellbeing, mental health, and social connections during this time.” (NCAA, 2020)
The Champions Network is here to help with this.
During this session, participants will hear from Ivy Watts (https://www.ivywattsspeaks.com/), a top 30 finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, who on the inside struggled daily with anxiety, self-worth and depression. Beth Caronna,(https://www.wcvb.com/article/5-for-good-doc-wayne-offers-sports-based-therapy-to-hundreds-of-area-kids/31246949), a former NCAA student-athlete, who had previously suffered with mental health challenges and used competitive sport for healing and Rebekah Roulier, LMHC (https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/04/03/0403-bh-s-roulier/), a former two sport NCAA student-athlete and college coach who became a clinician in response to not being able to meet her athletes mental health needs.
Participants will leave the session with practical tips on holding safe space for athletes to talk openly about mental health, the importance of their role in the mental health system, and first hand knowledge from two athletes who retrospectively can answer questions on what would have helped them during their careers.
We hope that this session will play a role in breaking the collective silence surrounding mental illness in competitive sport. Thank you for considering registering and joining the movement to ensure mental health support for all.
Once registered, all details will be sent to attendees via our Champions Network Welcome Packet which will arrive via email. If you have not received your Welcome Packet 1 week prior to the training please contact [email protected]