Student Athlete Mental Health

The SSI believes mental health is a part of, not apart from, athlete health. Mental health exists on a continuum, with resilience and thriving on one end of the spectrum and mental health disorders that disrupt a college athlete’s functioning and performance at the other. We strive to improve access to quality mental healthcare with the goal of creating a culture where care seeking for mental health issues is as normative as care seeking for physical injuries.

Collaborating with the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committees, as well as the most established medical, mental health and sports medicine organizations in the country, the SSI provides educational resources and inter-association best practices and tools which offer a model of care for student-athlete mental health.  This guidance encourages athletic environments that support help-seeking and facilitate early identification through appropriate referral and care. Establishing protocols for care means more equitable care across sports and within schools in support of college athlete mental health and well-being.