University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics

Bulldog Mental Health Support & Resources

Bulldog Mental Health Support & Resources


Athletes
Coaches
Administration

**New Information, stories and resources periodically added to site

For an overview of our #BeBulldogBrave mental health program and related outcomes, please click here

Mission Statement
UNC Asheville’s Department of Athletics is dedicated to the holistic well-being of our student-athletes and coaches. In fostering a culture of wellness, we believe that mental health should be prioritized alongside sport-specific practice, sports medicine, strength training, and nutrition. Supporting both mental and physical wellbeing is essential to peak performance and allows our student-athletes and coaches to be the strongest version of themselves - athletically, academically, and personally. 

In Bulldog Athletics, we encourage everyone to #BeBulldogBrave and reach out for support and support others when needed. Together we can break the stigma surrounding mental health in athletics. 

This website provides resources for athletes, coaches, administration, and alumni to learn more about creating a culture that supports mental health and seeking care for oneself and others. 

Below is a list of some of the other initiatives that the Bulldog Mental Health Team currently offers:


Education and Trainings

  • Mental health trainings for athletes, coaches, sports medicine/athletic training staff, and administration

  • Mental health check-ins and workshops with teams

  • Special topic meetings open to all athletes

  • Collaborations with campus and community organizations centered around diversity to ensure effective programing to address the unique needs of athletes who are historically underrepresented in mental health care

  • Development of a social media presence to extend educational opportunities

  • Meetings with student-athlete recruits to describe our program and priorities

  • Workshops for trustees, donors, and board members regarding mental health priorities

  • Represent UNC Asheville on the Big South Student-Athlete Wellness Committee


Mental Health Peer Support

  • Student-Athlete Mental Health Peer Ambassadors program (see attached)


Mental Health Liaison and Consulting

  • Individual meetings with athletes and coaches to coordinate mental health care and/or sport psychology services

  • Consultations with individual coaches about team dynamics or individual athlete concerns

  • Initial and ongoing mental health surveys of student-athletes

  • Collaborations with sports medicine staff to ensure effective communication about athletes in need

  • Collaborations with our University Care Team to ensure wrap-around support for athletes in need

  • Tailored support for injured athletes

  • Partnerships with local and national organizations to ensure our student-athletes and coaches have access to innovative and effective mental health care and related technology. Select partnerships include:

    • MindFlow: A resource for live, on-line mental health and sports psychology services 

    • TheZone: A personal wellness and resiliency App tailored to the unique needs of every student-athlete


Peak Performance 

  • Individual meetings with athletes in the Peak Performance Lab

  • Peak Performance Biofeedback

  • Mindfulness Training


Protocols and Planning 

  • Athletics Mental Health Task Force, comprised of representatives from athletics administration, sports medicine, campus health and counseling, coaches, athletes, and the mental health staff

  • Athletics Mental Health Best Practices and Emergency Action Plans for coaches and administration


Research, Grant Writing, and Dissemination

  • Research and research dissemination supporting the development of future programming

  • Opportunities for undergraduate research for current student-athletes

  • National research to gain recognition for UNC Asheville Athletics as a leader in this area

  • Presentations at professional local, regional, and national symposia, meetings, and conferences on the mental health needs of student athletes and training initiatives for coaches

  • Grant writing to ensure sustainable funding for current and future initiatives


Please contact Dr. Laura K. Jones, Athletics Mental Health Coordinator, with questions or requests: ljones3@unca.edu

For support in finding mental health care or resources, please contact: 
Dr. Laura K. Jones, Mental Health Coordinator: ljones3@unca.edu or
Dr. Jadarius (JD) Jackson, Mental Health Advisor: jadarius.jackson@gmail.com

Here is an overview of the numerous sources of Mental Health Support that we have for our student-athletes.


 



This video was created by 
Gillian Oyos & Bryson Lee,
UNCA Women’s Soccer Alumni

Professional Athletes Discussing Mental Health 

DeMar DeRozan and Michael Phelps Sit Down With Taylor Rooks to Discuss Mental Health - YouTube

NFL Star Brandon Marshall Reveals How He Suffered In Silence - YouTube

An Olympic Athlete Takes on Depression (Feat. Raven Saunders) - YouTube

Kevin Love Details His Battles with Mental Illness - YouTube

Olympic Athletes Biles, Osaka Shift the Conversation on Mental Health - YouTube

*Trigger Warning* Hayden Hurst's Second Chance in Life | Breaking the Stigma Around Mental Health - YouTube

"Special thanks to Maya Gutman, former UNC Asheville Women's Soccer player and the first student-athlete mental health consultant, for her endless time, dedication, and creativity in designing and creating the #BeBulldogBrave logos and resource guides for this website and for inspiring many #BeBulldogBrave initiatives."