Three impactful brain health organizations came together to further the cause for student-athlete mental health. D1on1, Dam Worth It, and Hilinski’s Hope hosted a virtual mental health conference for college athletes aimed at changing the conversation about mental health by empowering and connecting athletes with one another. The 2-hour zoom gathering focused on a variety of topics led by mental health advocates.
This event was held at a necessary time as the past few months have been highlighted by dramatic incidents and changes all around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone’s way of living to shift from social gatherings to social distancing which directly affects athletes who could not train with their teams. Many sports seasons are in jeopardy as the Ivy League has announced the suspension of all fall sports and many other conferences may face a similar outcome. This is also a time where nation-wide protest and racial justice is a mainstream topic in the media.
These uncertain times highlight the importance of community and prioritization of brain health, and that is exactly what the Str3ngth in Stories conference provided. The evening began with Freshman Phenom and University of Tennessee football player Brian Maurer setting the tone with a vulnerable speech as the Keynote Speaker. This was followed by break out sessions where participants broke up into groups based on their topic of interest.
There were 5 topics to choose from:
Diversity, Inclusion & Mental Health focused on all the injustices happening in our society right now, and why now it is more important than ever to have supportive and authentic conversations about race and mental health.
Sharing Your Story taught athletes that their story is their superpower and that it has the ability to impact and inspire the lives of people around them.
Coping During COVID-19 recognized as athletic careers come to abrupt ends, school transitioned to online learning, and staying home away from friends and teammates became the new normal, coping methods were necessary.
Expanding The Athletic Identity emphasized that we all must discover our passions outside of sport.
Building Community Around Mental Health, which gave athletes an opportunity to share and learn ways that they can be powerful mental health advocates & leaders.
The powerful impact of this gathering was noticed when at its conclusion the athletes made sure to create a GroupMe and share social media information with one another to ensure that they all stay connected. Despite the barriers a global pandemic creates, when it comes to sustaining connections, let alone making new ones, these athlete activists and organizations are coming together to make change and build a bond. We can all learn from these leaders as they are definitely inspiring us all with their actions to create a flawless world.
