Mental Health for the Student Athlete

Mental HealthFor the Student Athlete

Marcus SharpeCounseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Malinda ShellStudent Health Services (SHS)

Objectives

1. To define mental health

2. To help coaches recognize:1. When mental health declines 2. Mental health’s affects on athletic

performance 3. When to encourage an athlete to

seek help

3. To increase awareness of the mental health programs and services that are available to student athletes

Who Is The Face ofMental Illness?


Derrick Adkins (Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York)

1996 Olympic Gold Medalist

- Started feeling sad at age 9- Joined track team at 13- Hid signs of depression from

family, friends and coaches- Stopped taking his

antidepressant medication because it “slowed him down”

- Admitted to contemplating suicide just three weeks after his victory in Atlanta games.


Mike Tyson (Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York)

First and youngest heavyweight boxer to ever simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC, and IBF world heavyweight titles

- Bed-Stuy/Brownsville sections of B’klyn

- Arrested 38 times by age 13- Spofford Youth Detention- Death of mother at 16- Tryon School for Boys


Chris Henry (Birthplace: Belle Chasse, Louisiana)

- Attended Belle Chasse HS- New Orleans small school

offensive player of the year- Redshirt at WVU 2002- Repeated incidences of

“unsportsmanlike conduct” during sophomore year

- Signs with Cincinnati Bengals- Numerous off the field

problems- Dies at age 26 of BFT to head

on December 17, 2009


Kenny McKinley (Birthplace: Mableton, Georgia)

- True freshman at University of South Carolina (2005)

- Drafted by Denver Broncos in 2009

- Placed on “injured reserve” as a result knee injury - December 28, 2009

- Found dead in home at age 23 from self-inflicted GSW -September 20, 2010

- 131 page Sheriff’s Dept. report cited depression connected to debt (gambling) and season ending injury as possible reasons for suicide


David Duerson (Birthplace: Muncie, Indiana)

- Starting player four years at Notre Dame

- Graduated 1982 with academic honors in Economics

- Played 11 consecutive seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, and the Phoenix Cardinals

- Later owned/operated several successful businesses

- Found dead in his Florida home from self-inflicted GSW to the chest – February 17, 2011 (requested that family harvest brain for study at BU School of Medicine)

What is Mental Health?

“a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

World Health Organization (2005). Promoting Mental Health: Concepts, Emerging Evidence, and Practice. Geneva

Mental Health forStudent Athletes at OSU

Knowing a player’s… BLF or

Baseline Level of Functioning

BLF/Stress (defined)BLF is defined as the ability of an individual to engage in day-to-day activities (academics, athletics, social, etc.) while being minimally impacted by various forms of stress from your environment.Stress is often external, looks different from what other OSU students might experience, and is frequently beyond your control.

BLF Activity

Stand upLoosen upNever mind what you look likeStay focused on what you’re doingGo back to feet if you get lost!Go Back To Feet If You Get Lost!!GO BACK TO FEET IF YOU GET LOST!!!

When Mental Health Declines….

Sleep disturbances (too much or too little)Feel overwhelmedGet behind in school workProcrastinationOvercompensationCranky and irritableStress and pressureLack of concentrationCan’t shut mind offOut of balanceDrop the ball

Life as a college student

TransitionsNew environmentHomesicknessLack of a scheduleNo parents

And then there’s…….

In season/off seasonErratic schedulesDealing with wins and lossesInjuryLack of PTOvertraining syndromeCan lead to risky behaviors

Which results in…….DistractionLack of concentrationLess alertSlower response timePoor decisionsPoor eating habitsSleep disturbanceDecreased motivationNegative thinkingFatigue

Injury

A student athlete who is experiencing mental health problems is “injured” just as if they had a physical or medical problem

Mental health problems, if not treated, can affect athletic performance and limit or even preclude training and competition until managed or treated

OSU Student AthletesFelt things were hopeless (52.8%)Felt overwhelmed (85.7%)Felt exhausted (72.8%)Felt lonely (55.7%)Felt very sad (62.8%)Felt overwhelming anxiety (45.7%)

Higher rates than the regular student population National College

Health Assessment (NCHA) data, 2010

OSU Student Athletes

Also experiencing the following at a higher rates as well:– Depression– Anger– Thoughts of suicide – Intentional injury to self– Homesickness– Relationship difficulties

CoachesCoaches should be involved in identifying mental health problems because you:– Are in an ideal position to identify

when your student-athletes are having difficulty because you spend so much quality time with them

– Have considerable power and influence with your student-athletes that can increase the likelihood your student-athletes will receive timely and effective treatment

CoachesCoaches should be involved in identifying mental health problems because you:– Can minimize by early

detection the effects of the disorder on your student athletes’ health and performance

– Can recommend prompt treatment to decrease your student-athletes’ time away from training and competition.

How to helpThe most serious mistake that anyone can make in (mis)managing a student-athlete with a mental health problem is to respond as if the problem is trivial or a sign of weakness

Your main job is to assist the student in getting to the right health care provider

How to help

If the student approaches you:– Stop what you are doing, look

at the person, and listen.– Listening is the most

important part of communication.

– It is hard to talk and listen at the same time.

– If you listen well, you will know when to speak and what to say.

– Accept what you are given.

How to help

If the student approaches you:– Ask questions for clarification

without judging.– When it appears the person has

finished talking, ask if there is anything else he/she needs to say.

– Indicate that you are glad he/she came to you and that you want to help.

– Make the necessary referral and encourage/support its acceptance

How to help

The student hasn’t come to you– Approach the individual

privately– Sensitivity is a key in

facilitating the discussion.

– Begin by saying that you are concerned about the individual’s welfare and would like to help.

How to help

The student hasn’t come to you– Ask how he or she is feeling,

and how school, practice and games are going.

– Tell the student-athlete that you need to make sure he or she is okay and you would like him or her talk with a healthcare professional and that you would like to help arrange the appointment.

Knowing your limits

To avoid the student-athlete’s difficulties weighing too heavily on you, you need to know your limits.

Be aware of what is reasonable to expect from yourself.

You cannot change the person because you have limited control.

Knowing your limits

Your responsibility is to recognize and refer.

When you begin to feel undue stress or worry, it is time to take care of yourself and turn the problem over to someone else.

http://www.ncaa.org/

Managing Student-Athletes’Mental Health

Issues

Getting Help @ OSU

Health Coaching– Student Health

Services

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Health CoachingHealth Advising

Goal setting

Tips/strategies

Individualized Plan

Referrals

Continued support

For example: Stress Management

Stress AssessmentChoose Your RelaxerScheduling/Time managementProcrastination PlanDeep BreathingGuided ImageryProgressive muscle relaxation

A few more points about Health Coaching……

Completely confidentialStudent-drivenSupportDedicated practitioners for student athletesStarting PointMeet @ DixonOutside perspective

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Counseling andPsychological Services (CAPS)

Snell Hall5th FloorMonday

- 10AM-5PMTuesday-Friday

- 8AM-5PM


Students can now schedule same day or urgent

care consultations beginning at 8:30AM daily


All consultations are:– Free– Confidential– Last 45-50 minutes– Non-committal– Solution focused– Target return to BLF


Couples counseling that is

designed to strengthen

communication and improve

problem solving techniques


Group counseling can be another

way to help student-athletes return to their

BLF… (e.g., Managing

ADHD, SMART Recovery, etc.)


We make every attempt to

honor a student’s

request for gender specific

counselors when possible…


Not everyone who experiences

stress needs to see a counselor. For some, simply remembering the four P’s could be all that’s need…

PassionPeoplePleasurePurpose


For those who have tried to “go it alone” but still feel like they’re

suffering in silence… Snell Hall, 5th Floor

(541) 737-2131


But wait…

There’s more…


you can also check us out on the web at…

www.oregonstate.edu/counsel

In closing…Let us help you optimize your athletic performance

Identify healthy ways to cope with stress

Return to your BLF

We can help you keep your balance and NOT drop the ball…

Questions???

Marcus SharpeCounseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

[email protected]

Malinda ShellStudent Health Services (SHS)

[email protected]



Mental Health for the Student Athlete

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