Hope Happens Here: Students confront mental health in athletes

Mental health is a heavy topic, but two St. Michael’s students are starting the conversation. Daniel Divis and Justin McKenzie, juniors on the men’s ice hockey team and members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, are heading Hope Happens Here, a campaign to promote mental health awareness and wellness specifically in student-athletes.

....What type of information will they be distributing? Tips for spiritual, social, financial, intellectual, environmental, and physical well-being are all provided in an information “wellness wheel.” In addition, they have created a “wellness wheel” specific to St. Michael’s campus resources. On the wheel one can find information on who to contact in the Bergeron Wellness Center, athletic department, or within the NCAA if you or one of your teammates seems to be struggling with mental health....

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Bethany`s Notes
Notes: Information distributed by athletes themselves can go much farther than students think. Coaches and administrators can help equip students to share and refer their peers who might be dealing with mental illness. Many times teammates have more knowledge about the mental health of an athlete then the coach.