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The April 2021 Newsletter

Athletes Connected produces a newsletter each quarter to share updates surrounding program initiatives, stories and other athlete mental health notices. You are receiving this newsletter because you are a friend, supporter, donor or otherwise signed up for our messages. [ See past newsletters ]
ATHLETES CONNECTED UPDATES
Adaptive Sports & Mental Health
Students and staff from University of Michigan Adaptive Sports and Fitness program shared their thoughts about mental health with Athletes Connected. In this story, they share how the program has positively impacted their mental health and created a supportive community. [ Read More ]

"Adaptive sports are a tight-knit community of like-minded individuals that have personally overcome adversity whether it’s a traumatic injury or a congenital disorder. We have a unique perspective about how to tackle life’s obstacles and we can provide key insights that typical healthcare providers may not understand or realize without the first-person perspective."
-- Matt Fritzie, Adaptive Tennis, Graduate Student
Big Ten Wellness Cabinet Presents at
2021 Depression on College Campuses Conference
Athletes Connected team member and U-M Athletics Counseling Team Director Abigail Eiler, LMSW, led a panel of experts from Minnesota, Maryland, Purdue, and the Big Ten Conference on navigating student-athlete mental health & wellness during the dual pandemic. [ Watch Here ]
Thank You, Therapists!
The intake, the listening, the providing, the all-around helpfulness are all reasons why we appreciate therapists. One of our team members took some time to thank therapists during such a trying time. [ Learn More ]
Handling Seasonal Affective Disorder and Isolation
During a Pandemic
Seasonal Affective Disorder and the isolation due to the pandemic are a recipe for growing mental distress. We shared coping strategies in this article. [ Learn More ]
COPING SKILLS HIGHLIGHT

NCAA champion runner Jaimie Phelan shares how she uses mindful self-compassion.
ATHLETE MENTAL HEALTH IN THE NEWS
  • Alterique Gilbert and Dexter Dennis of Wichita State men's basketball talk about how “we all need more self-love” to The Wichita Eagle.
  • On The Mental Health Coalition’s “121” Instagram Live” series, Jeremy Lin opens up about the racism he endured on the basketball court and how it ultimately affected his mental health.
  • “The day I shared my secret, all my walls broke down.” LPGA champion golfer Madelene Sagstrom opens up about past sexual abuse in LGPA Drive On feature
SPOTLIGHT: ATHLETE MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES
#BulldogBraveBulldogStrong
Fresno State created the Bulldog Brave Bulldog Strong Campaign to open the conversation around mental health in collegiate athletics, ending the stigma to make every team, every sport, and every student-athlete know they can ask for help.
Montana State Creates Wellness for Student-Athletes
MSU Athletics' Student-Athlete Wellness Department released a comprehensive wellness toolkit to promote optimal athletic and academic performance among student-athletes and to foster a positive mental health culture. [ Read More ]
UPDATE FROM THE TEAM
U-M Depression Center to be Renamed to Honor Eisenberg Family, in Recognition of $30M in Giving
On Thursday, March 25, the University of Michigan Board of Regents voted to approve renaming the U-M Depression Center for Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg and their family, in recognition of their transformational $30 million total giving to depression research and scholarship.

The center will be known as the Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg and Family Depression Center. [ Read More ]
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