Mental health counseling services and resources for community college student athletes
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Sabrina H. Johnson (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Diane Gill
Abstract: Collegiate athletes experience unique stressors that affect their mental well-being. Institutions have counseling centers, but community colleges have few resources specifically for community college athletes. Literature suggests inconsistencies in student athletes’ mental health care. The purpose of this study was to identify mental health resources within the NJCAA region 10 institutions and compare those to the NCAA suggested mental health best practices. Surveys were sent to both athletic directors and counseling center directors at each institution. The survey described the NCAA mental health best practices, and asked participants to rate how well their institution met those best practices. Other items asked about available services and their suggestions for improving services. The 13 counselors who completed the survey were primarily white and female, and the six athletic directors (3 men, 3 women) were all white. When asked how familiar they were with the NCAA best practices, only one athletics director was very familiar; all other participants were not at all and somewhat familiar. The main survey items asked how well their institution met the 4 NCAA Best Practices from Definitely Yes (1) to Definitely No (4). Nearly all counselors and 2 of 4 athletics directors said they met the NCAA MH best practice #1: clinical licensure of practitioner that provides mental health care. In contrast, most participants reported not meeting best practice number 2: having a referral procedure, or best practice number 3: providing pre-participation mental health screening. Most participants thought they met best practice 4: providing a mental health supporting environment, but nearly half said they do not provide educational tools for student athletes or coaches. Open ended responses suggested that on campus counseling services were viewed positively, but some institutions did not have services on campus, and several cited limited resources.
Mental health counseling services and resources for community college student athletes
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Created on 8/1/2024
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2024
- Keywords
- Student athletes, Mental health, Community College
- Subjects
- Community college athletes $x Counseling of
- Community college athletes $x Mental health