In recognition of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, the ACC will be delivering a series of Mental Health related educational videos and recorded webinars. Additionally, we are sharing various mental health and wellness resources.

Student-Athlete Mental Health During COVID-19 Webinar
Millions of students are experiencing the impact of COVID-19. This is especially true for student-athletes, who may be struggling with disruptions to their schedule and training, disconnection from their teammates, or feeling disappointed about the canceled season. Fortunately, mental health practitioners and athletic departments in the ACC are meeting this challenge by providing online support and other resources.

Panelists:
- Kristen Mackel, LCSW, Lead Clinical Counselor, University of Pittsburgh Athletics
- Dr. Bailey Nevels, Coordinator of Psychological Health Services for Student-Athletes, Clemson University
- Courtney Jones, student-athlete, Clemson University

Moderator:
Laura Horne, MPH, Chief Program Officer, Active Minds
 

Sleep: #1 Factor in Performance - Dr Jarrod Spencer - Mind of the Athlete
Sleep is the #1 factor that impacts an athlete's performance. Yet, most people, and especially athletes, feel tired, overextended or overwhelmed. The cause of this perpetual feeling is sleep deprivation. The average athlete is only getting about 6 hours a night. Their minds are flooded with many unresolved psychological stressors that impede them from getting the sleep needed for maximum academic and athletic performance, as well as optimal emotional health. In addition, athletes today are struggling with cell phone addiction which is having a negative impact on their sleep - they are looking at their phones while in bed and thus the phone's blue light is suppressing the brain's release of melatonin. Ultimately, the rise of mental health concerns, in particular anxiety, has its roots in sleep deprivation due to cell phone addiction. This video will draw the connection between performance, sleep, cell phones and mental health.  It will teach athletes the neuroscience of sleep and equip them with practical skills to improve the quality of their sleep, as well as overall mental health. Drawing upon current research and clinical examples

Speaker: 
Dr. Jarrod Spencer 
Twitter - @MindOfAthlete
Instagram – mindoftheathlete
Website – www.mindoftheathlete.com
 
Supporting Student-Athletes Experiencing Athletic Injury?

This series of videos will help viewers understand how athletic injury impacts well-being and mental health of student-athletes. It will explore how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors impacts outcomes from athletic injury. We will discuss strategies to provide support to student-athletes who have experienced athletic injury and identify strategies to provide support to student-athletes who have medically retired.

“How are student-athletes impacted by athletic injury?” - Dr. Karen Egan – Associate Sport Psychologist (UVA)?
 

“Hokies Helping Hokies Heal” - Dr. Paul Knackstedt – Staff Counselor (Va. Tech)?
 

“UVA Recovery Support Group: Managing Pits and Yellow Lights” - Dr. Jason Freeman – Sport Psychologist (UVA)?
 

“When It Really Ends: Supporting Athletes Through Medical Retirement” - Dr. Jeni Shannon – Director of the Carolina Athletics Mental Health and Performance Psychology Program (UNC)?