A pair of Athletes Connected program staffers spoke with the U-M Health Blog about how sports icons like Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles are shedding new light on mental health in athletics. In the story, Will Heininger and Stephanie Salazar of the Eisenberg Family Depression Center lend their expertise and past experiences. [ Read More ]

-- Simone Biles

A question many don't have answered when the competition ends is, "what's next?" Dr. Jeff Porter, U-M Director of Student-Athlete Alumni Relations, is a former Olympian and Michigan track & field star, who helps with that answer. Needless to say, Dr. Porter understands athletic identity. Dr. Porter breaks down his experience with athletic identity, and shares his wisdom about transitioning out of one’s career in sports. [ Read More ]

Emily Klueh, LMSW, has worn many hats over the years.

She was an NCAA champion and school record holder while swimming at Michigan, helped launch the Athletes Connected Program, and now serves as a Paralympic Mental Health Officer, which will bring her to Tokyo for the Paralympic Games this August. In her role as a Mental Health Officer, Emily helps elite athletes care for their minds, as well as their bodies.

Emily will send updates, via @Aths_Connected twitter account, as the Games run August 24 until September 5.

Athletes Connected partnered with SoHo Youth Club in May, for Mental Health Awareness Month. SYC’s mission is to provide experience, opportunity, and education to youth from underserved communities. The goals were to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health, as well as raise funds for mental health programming and education.

Later in the month, Athletes Connected’s Abigail Eiler and Will Heininger joined SYC’s roundtable discussion. The roundtable was attended by representatives from each mental health initiative who partnered with SYC during May, including NFL players Deatrich Wise, Jr. and Doug Middleton. 

There is no right way to handle grief. Athletes Connected program coordinator Rachel Amity lays out what you might already know--grieving is extremely difficult and your feelings are valid. [ Read More ]

Mental health is a major focus at the Black Student-Athlete Summit. A three-day annual event for student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and professors, the BSAS is the only event of its kind that caters to holistic development of the Black Student-Athlete. Panelists educate and encourage attendees to be more proactive in speaking about mental health, and discuss the role of mental wellness in the Black Student-Athlete The 2022 Summit will be held in Houston, Jan 5-7, 2022. [ Learn More ]

Youngstown State University’s Student-Athlete Wellness Committee aims to establish and maintain relationships with campus and community resources, in order to promote the health and well-being of its student-athletes. These relationships can be critically important, both so student-athletes know they exist, and know how to connect with the resource(s) if needed. They have also included an anonymous referral system to promote help-seeking. [ Read More ]