Evaluation and treatment by the proper professionals should be coordinated by a school psychologist/professional and/or athletic trainer and the athlete's parent/guardian.

1. If during practice/competition, contact the Athletic Trainer as soon as possible.

   • The athlete may ask you to come with them, encourage them to go on their own, or let them know you’ll be right outside.

2. Identify signs and symptoms and determine likely mental health issue and possible cause.

3. Recommend a course of action for the student-athlete which may include, but not limited to, counseling, medication (decided by a licensed professional), and/or time at a health and well-being center.

Non-Emergency Mental Health situations include, but are not limited to, Anxiety, Athlete Burnout, Disordered Eating, and Body Image Issues.

Situational Non-Emergency Mental Health situations (non-emergency situations that may elevate to emergency situations) include, but are not limited to, a Panic Attack, Depression, Catastrophic Injury, and Adjustment Disorder.

If a student is in immediate danger such as seizure, self-inflicted harm, threatening harm against others, or another medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

• Clear the room if necessary. Try to be as discreet as possible.

• Stay with the student-athlete until help arrives, but do not jeopardize your personal safety.

• If the athlete is working themselves up to something such as a panic attack, attempt to calm them.

• Contact the Athletic Trainer as soon as possible to inform them of the situation.

Even if a student-athlete asks you not to call for help, do it. They can refuse transportation if medical assistance is unnecessary. Do not let them talk you out of calling someone, even if they seem to stabilize or tell you to forget it.

Emergency Mental Health situations include, but are not limited to, Suicidal or homicidal ideation, Suicidal or homicidal plan/intent, Highly agitated behavior, Threatening behavior, Acute paranoia/psychosis, Acute delirium/confused state, Acute alcohol intoxication/poisoning, Drug overdose or use, and Sexual Assault/Dating Violence.

Situational Non-Emergency Mental Health situations (non-emergency situations that may elevate to emergency situations) include, but are not limited to, a Panic Attack, Depression, Catastrophic Injury, and Adjustment Disorder.

Be comfortable with the topic. Many people shy away from mental health issues as if it were some contagious disease. Discuss the topic with openness and normality. This doesn’t necessarily mean opening up about possible personal mental health issues, but it is important for student athletes to know they are not the only ones who struggle. Giving the team options about how they want to discuss mental health is a way to help them feel like a part of the solution instead of simply having anything they’re being told to do. Having a choice, that freedom to decide helps create a more open and positive environment for the team.

A discussion with the team on the importance of maintaining good mental health is something that should be done at least once a year. Because there are rarely physical markers, mental health is easily swept under the rug in too many cases. Seasons start, games are played, practices are held every day, lift gets harder, classes continually move forwards with new assignments and tests, making it easy to lose track of something that we can’t see. But these are all exactly the reasons we CANNOT sweep mental health under the rug. Mental health has an impact of a student-athletes overall performance more than physical health, and effects more aspects of their lives.

Mental health impacts the emotional state of a person, which in-turn impacts physical performance, academic performance, relationships with teammates/friends/family/romantic partners, and self-value. When a person of influence in the student athlete’s life turns to blame and anger before thoroughly assessing the situation, it can cause a downward spiral in the mental well being of that person (refer to tornado chart on next page for visual). A person of influence can be a coach as well as a professor, an advisor, captain, trusted friend, parent/guardian or romantic partner.

For these reasons, it’s important to not only destigmatize mental health and set the example for your staff and student athletes, but to strongly discourage others from speaking or acting negatively towards those who display or discuss their mental health challenges. Being there for one another no matter what is one ideal that many teams attempts but fall short on due to prejudices and old ways of thinking, many times due to mental health issues. Stress the importance of support for someone who is struggling, rather than leaving them to tread unknown waters by themselves.