lecture nine

NCAA Mental Health Best Practices

• The NCAA introduced mental health best practices for athletic departments in 2017 and updated them in 2024.

• Key focus: Create a healthy and health-promoting environment for both staff and athletes.

Educational Opportunities

• Establish educational initiatives for staff and athletes concerning mental health.

Identification Procedures

• Implement procedures to identify student-athletes with mental health needs, disorders, or crisis situations.

• All new athletes are screened using:

  • PHQ-9 (depression screener)

  • GAD-7 (anxiety screener)

• Follow-up consultation for identified athletes to provide support and education.

Mental Health Emergency Action Plan

• Develop a Mental Health Emergency Action Plan to route athletes to qualified providers.

• Availability of in-house licensed providers or community referrals to support athletes.

Key Statistics from Iowa

• Since August 2024, 25 student-athletes (30%) have had meetings, totaling 639 sessions.

• 53 athletes are active clients with 276 sessions provided.

Common Mental Health Issues

• Increasing burnout rates, suicidal ideation, and self-harm reported among athletes.

• Predominant concerns:

  • Anxiety (performance-related and generalized)

  • Depression

  • Burnout

Team Structure and Approach

• Staff includes licensed providers who focus on athlete welfare and performance issues.

• QR codes on cards for discreet access to mental health counseling, reducing stigma and enhancing confidentiality.

Counseling Sessions

• Individual confidential counseling to address stressors impacting athletic performance.

• Focus on crisis intervention for athletes experiencing suicidal ideation or crises.

• Wellness meetings with other departments (strength and conditioning, nutrition, etc.) to discuss athlete concerns and create treatment plans.

Biofeedback Program

• Implementation of biofeedback to help athletes manage stress, utilizing sensors to measure:

  • Sweat production, skin temperature, muscle tension, heart rate, respiration rate, brain waves.

• Aims to build a mind-body connection and improve self-regulation of stress responses.

Community Engagement and Diversity Initiatives

• Involvement in diversity initiatives such as supporting LGBTQI+ groups and creating safe spaces for athletes.

• Mentorship programs for various athlete demographics.

Challenges and Considerations

Stigma and Referral Hesitation

• Stigma remains prevalent among certain sports, particularly high-visibility ones like football and basketball.

• Athletes often fear negative repercussions from seeking help, such as losing their place on a team.

Diagnostic Challenges

• Difficulty differentiating between sport commitment-related issues and clinical depression in symptoms like fatigue.

• Need for education to medical providers about the unique experiences of athletes.

Financial and Ethical Considerations

• Mental health professionals in athletics may face compensation challenges despite rising revenues in college sports.

• Ethical dilemmas regarding confidentiality and dual relationships with clients (e.g., supervising groups that include clients).