In May of 2019, in addition to extending funding of the Pac-12 Student-Athlete Health & Well-Being Initiative (SAHWBI), the Pac-12 Board of Directors voted to significantly increase to $1.1M annually the portion of funding to on-campus mental health services, in order to provide more support. The annual investment of $1.1M is provided through the Pac-12 SAHWBI directly to the Conference's 12 member universities and goes toward additional campus resources to directly support student-athletes in need.
A key area of focus of the Pac-12 Student-Athlete Health & Well-Being Initiative, the Pac-12 and its member universities continue to invest in research and resources related to the mental health & wellness of student-athletes.
Below are several online resources across the country, specifically focused on mental health:
- MentalHealth.gov
- Mental Health America
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Also, via Michigan State athletics, please find here a mental health resources toolkit specifically for Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC):
Across the Pac-12, each campus has materials, information & other resources available. Please find such resources on each Pac-12 campus below:
The Pac-12 Mental Health Task Force, which is comprised of a multidisciplinary group of practitioners from member institutions, serves as a resource to the Pac-12 on educational initiatives, applied research, and best practices to advance the mental health and well-being of collegiate athletes.
For a list of Pac-12 Mental Health Task Force members, see here.
In April 2020, the Pac-12 Student-Athlete Health & Well-Being Initiative (SAHWBI) announced the formation and funding of a Pac-12 Mental Health Coordinating Unit which will support student-athlete mental health programs and research. The University of Arizona was selected to serve as the Pac-12 Mental Health Coordinating Unit, and provide services related to, supporting and implementing the SAHWBI mental health initiatives among Pac-12 universities.
With the University of Arizona and Dr. Daniel Taylor selected by the Pac-12 SAHWBI Board to establish the newly-funded unit, the charge of the Pac-12 Mental Health Coordinating Unit is to:
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Support student-athlete mental health related programs and research.
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Facilitate the integration of relevant mental health variables used in clinical documentation on the Pac-12 EHR (a conference-wide injury and health record system being utilized for clinical research and analysis).
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Establish mental health screening methods consistent with NCAA best practice recommendations to be implemented at each Pac-12 university.
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Facilitate policies and procedures that address positive mental health screening methods.
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Report on epidemiological outcomes at the end of the study's period with an initial phase of activities set for three years.
In January 2020, the Pac-12 SAHWBI, in partnership with the NCAA and hosted by UCLA at the university’s Luskin Conference Center, held the first-ever Student-Athlete Mental Health Summit. The two-day event provided a unique opportunity for exchange among national and international leaders on the important issues surrounding mental health.
The event convened over 300 attendees from across the sports landscape to discuss topics related to mental health and athletics, including coaches, team physicians, athletic trainers, athletics directors and current and former student-athletes.