Updated Mental Health Best Practices Now Available
On behalf of the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports, the NCAA Sport Science Institute is pleased to announce that Mental Health Best Practices for Understanding and Supporting Student-Athlete Mental Wellness, second edition, which is an Inter-Association Consensus Document, is now available. The updated document, approved by the NCAA Board of Governors at its January 2024 meeting and effective Aug. 1, 2024, provides Association-wide guidance and recommendations for schools to support student-athlete mental health.
As a reminder, Association-wide legislation (see Bylaw 16) requires all schools to provide mental health services and resources consistent with the Mental Health Best Practices.
NCAA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Hainline emphasized the importance of the update and praised its contributors, “The release of the second edition of the NCAA Mental Health Best Practices is a milestone for our field and a testament to the hard work, dedication and expertise of the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports and the NCAA Mental Health Advisory Group. The updated Mental Health Best Practices reflect the highest standards of excellence and evidence-based practice and provide comprehensive and up-to-date guidance on supporting mental health in collegiate athletics. The NCAA recognizes the importance of promoting and protecting the mental wellness of student-athletes who face unique challenges and pressures in their pursuit of excellence. We hope that this document will inspire and empower you to make mental health a priority in your athletic department.”
The Mental Health Best Practices were developed by the NCAA Committee for Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports, as informed by expert- and consensus-based recommendations from its Mental Health Advisory Group. The Mental Health Advisory Group consists of over 30 representatives from scientific, medical, sports medicine organizations and all divisions of the NCAA membership. The second edition details considerations for student-athletes of color, LGBTQ+ student-athletes, international student-athletes and student-athletes with disabilities. The document also includes considerations for emerging topics that intersect with mental health, including sports wagering, social media, suicide contagion and name, image and likeness.
The following resources are available to assist NCAA members in implementing the Mental Health Best Practices:
3.Mental Health Best Practices Checklist. Updated and included in the updated document and identifies each best practice, core component and additional element for consideration in implementing the Mental Health Best Practices.
4.Mental Health Best Practices Resources. A webpage that includes resources, supplemental information and implementation strategies for the Mental Health Best Practices. The list of resources is intended to evolve over time, as CSMAS will regularly review and update as appropriate.
5.Additional Educational Opportunities. A variety of educational opportunities specific to the second edition will be made available to the membership in the coming months. These may include additional SSI Spotlight sessions, learning modules and other materials.
Specific questions may be submitted to ssi@ncaa.org. Additionally, should there be interest in more detailed engagement (e.g., conference meeting presentation), please submit a speaker request using the speaker request form.
This email was sent to NCAA Divisions I, II and III Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designees, Athletics Health Care Administrators, Conference Commissioners, Directors of Athletics, Directors of Compliance, Directors of Mental Health Counseling, Drug-Testing Site Coordinators, Faculty Athletics Representatives, Head Athletic Trainers, Head Team Physicians, Presidents and Chancellors and Senior Woman Administrators based on contact information in the NCAA Directory.
