All college students can benefit from mental health support, but athletes face a special set of challenges.
Balancing academics with a full training and game schedule, the pressures of competition, and even added stress brought by fans gambling on their games can take their toll. To address these concerns, Siena’s Counseling Center and Athletics have joined forces to develop the College’s Athletic Mental Health Team, one of the first of its kind in the nation.
Tom Templeton, associate director of the Counseling Center, learned about the concept at a recent conference of the American College Counseling Association and decided to create a team for Siena Saints.
“We want our athletes to know that from day one that when they arrive at Siena their mental health is as important as their physical health, and as critical as winning,” said Templeton, who noted that an emphasis on mental health and wellness is part of the College’s Strategic Plan.
The multidisciplinary team is made up of athletics and mental health administrators who meet monthly to discuss various topics, including policies and practices, training, and resource sharing. They were recently awarded a grant from the Jed Foundation for an in-person, interactive mental health training for all athletics staff that will be held on campus in May. The half-day session will cover recognizing signs of distress, promoting a sense of belonging, strategizing student support and self-care, and more.
“The formation of this team will serve our student athletes at Siena in a very positive way,” said Rebecca Sanger, director of student athlete health and performance, and head athletic trainer. “The NCAA Student-Athlete Core Guarantees puts mental health at the forefront, and being able to unite and discuss with our available resources on campus can only better serve our student athletes as a whole.”
The College’s Office of Health Promotion is also instrumental in supporting the team’s efforts. Cathy Dockum, associate director of health promotion, organized the recent effort in which the women’s basketball team hosted Mental Health Awareness Night at their February 15 home game, with support from student groups and local vendors.
“We want to be sure everyone knows about the many resources that are available for athletes and all students at Siena,” said Dockum.
In addition to Templeton, Sanger and Dockum, the mental health team includes women’s basketball Coach Terry Primm; Drew Santandera, associate athletic director for operations; Anthony Pelliccia, assistant athletic director for advising; and Danielle Lynch, mental performance coach.