Asking for help with anything can be difficult, especially when you’re dealing with a mental health issue. As athletes, we’re often taught to “tough it out” or “suck it up.” When we’re dealing with a little discomfort, that can work. When we’re dealing with a medical condition like depression or anxiety, toughing it out does NOT help us to get better. The good news is that help is available.
This section will discuss getting help from the people in your life, such as a coach, parent, or friend. We will also talk about the idea of your ‘support team,’ and why it’s important that YOU get to choose who is on it. We will also discuss possible approaches and considerations that could be helpful when deciding who is on your team.
RESTORATIVE YOGA SESSIONS
During the summer of 2018, Athletes Connected partnered with IN-Power Performance to facilitate restorative yoga sessions for student-athletes. These sessions are intended to relax student-athletes and alleviate stress. These sessions, led by athletic department staff, had continued in winter 2020 through February prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The yoga sessions last no longer than an hour and will take place at the Indoor Practice Facility on select Wednesdays. U-M student-athletes should check their emails and text messages for the RSVP links (space is limited). Contact us by email with your questions and feedback!
FROM YOUR SCHOOL/COLLEGE
Academic institutions often have a counseling center on campus. Counseling center staff may also be able to help you connect with other mental health resources in the area. It is helpful to identify these resources early, as sometimes there can be a wait time for an appointment. Even so, don’t be discouraged or let your search for help end there. Click here to find resources in your area, as well as immediate help.
Ask about ways to supplement your clinical care during the time in between appointments. There are many ways to manage your mental health, from apps and websites, to self-help books, journaling, meditation, exercise, and so on.
U-M ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
Athletics Counseling Team
The U-M Athletic Department is committed to the health and well-being of its student-athletes. The Athletics Counseling Team (ACT) offers services included, but not limited to, prevention, performance, and clinical care. Student-athletes can schedule an appointment by email or call (734)-647-9656.
Michigan is proud to have four full-time staff members to meet the needs of its student-athletes:
ABIGAIL EILER | Assistant Athletic Director (Director of Athletics Counseling Team), Clinical Assistant Professor, U-M School of Social Work
Abigail is a licensed clinical social worker and educator with more than 10 years of experience working in tribal and non-tribal communities across the United States and Canada. She has been a LEO Lecturer in the University of Michigan School of Social Work since 2014, where she teaches various interpersonal practice courses to MSW and PhD students enrolled in the school’s program. She also holds an appointment as a licensed clinical social worker in the Athletic Department and is helping train social workers as Michigan Medicine rolls out Behavioral Health Collaborative Care in Ambulatory Care. Abigail has been a field instructor for MSW and PhD interns from University of Michigan School of Social Work since 2010 and continue to promote the use of evidence-based practices across the life course.
She is the President for the National Association of Social Workers – Michigan Chapter Board of Directors. She has supported over $8 million in research efforts over the past seven years with emphasis on improving mental health screening and services for youth ages 10-24.
EMILY KLUEH | Athletic Counselor
Emily is a clinical athletic counselor for the U-M athletic department’s Performance Psychology Center. She provides direct clinical care to student-athletes, consults with coaches, conducts team presentations, creates educational programming and works interactively with support staff.
A native of Kentucky, Klueh was an elite swimmer, winning an NCAA championship, being named Big Ten Swimmer of the Year and competing professionally until 2016, while also representing USA Swimming. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan. For Athletes Connected, Emily previously served as program coordinator and is co-lead on restorative yoga groups.
KEVYN MONIER | Athletic Counselor
Kevyn Monier (MOHN-yay) is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 10 years of experience working as a counselor and behavioral health provider in the non-profit and Government sector. For the previous six years before Michigan, he has been active with the Army National Guard as a clinical social worker and currently holds the rank of Captain.
In addition, he has worked as a behavioral health provider for the Department of Medical Affairs and the Department of Defense. In both of these capacities, he has provider clinical care for veterans and has helped support the medical readiness of Soldiers in the states of Minnesota and Oregon. He will continue to serve in the same capacity with the Michigan National Guard.
NICHOLAS G. VELISSARIS, PH.D. | Clinical Neuropsychologist / Athletic Counselor
Nicholas Velissaris, Ph.D. is a clinical neuropsychologist and athletic counselor within our Athletic Counseling Team. He graduated from Michigan with a degree in psychology and was a varsity letter-winner in wrestling. He holds two masters degrees (clinical-behavioral psychology, clinical psychology) and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a specialization in neuropsychology.
Dr. Velissaris completed his intern year in neuropsychology at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (Oklahoma City, OK) and completed one year as a post-doctoral fellow in neuropsychology at Baylor College of Medicine/TIRR Memorial Hermann (Houston, TX). He earned the Charles Matthews Award for his research on cognitive functioning in pediatric epilepsy and comorbid ADHD. His dissertation research focused on ADHD in adults with higher intelligence. Previously, he has been a direct service provider for adults with autism and administered neuropsychological tests as a psychometrist for an NFL pilot study.
Nick is originally from Northbrook, Ilinois. He is excited to have returned to his alma mater and enjoys the opportunity to help our student-athletes become the future leaders and best.
RACHEL AMITY | Athletes Connected Program Coordinator
Rachel Amity is originally from Corvallis, Oregon, where she grew up playing soccer, volleyball, and lacrosse. She graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a Bachelor’s in Psychology, where she also worked as a student athletic trainer. Rachel completed her Master’s of Social Work at the University of Michigan, where she was working as the MSW intern with Athletes Connected and the Athletic Counseling Team. She was named Athletes Connected program coordinator in the fall of 2019.
JONAH SILK | Ehrenberg Family Fellow
Jonah Silk is the Ehrenberg Family Fellow of Athletic Counseling as part of the U-M Athletics Counseling Team. After moving around the East Coast in his youth, Jonah graduated from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in Holocaust Studies. He played for the varsity soccer team and had some stints abroad in Spain and in Sweden before settling into coaching in New Jersey. Jonah moved to Ann Arbor in 2018 and earned his Master’s Degree in Social Work from U-M in 2020.
Jonah interned at the Judson Center in Warren, Michigan, prior to joining the athletic department. Jonah enjoys playing hockey and still tries to skate over at the A2 Ice Cube when he isn’t playing with his dog Jasper.
Additional Athletic Department Resources
BIPOC MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
We share resources to aid Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in finding mental health providers on and off campus at the University of Michigan.
FINDING A PROVIDER
- Black Mental Health Alliance
- Find a therapist locator to connect with a culturally competent mental health professional, plus additional information and resources.
- Self-Identified Racial Identity Therapists
- A list of local therapists who specialize in providing therapy to people of color. In addition to race/ethnicity, the Find a Therapist tool allows you to select a variety of factors that may be important to you, including accepted insurance and providers who specialize in sport.
- Inclusive Therapists
- A list of therapists that can provide culturally responsive virtual or teletherapy care.
U-M CAMPUS RESOURCES
- Athletics Counseling Team (ACT)
- The ACT provides a full spectrum of care for student-athletes to flourish during their career at Michigan. All of the counseling team is trained in providing culturally responsive mental health counseling and some of the staff are therapists of color.
- I’m Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired
- This resource and statement from CAPS includes information on completing a needs assessment, finding a community of support, channeling your emotions into action, and utilizing professional counseling services, as well as resources for Black mental health and anti-racism work.
- Michigan in Color (MiC)
- MiC is a news section of the Michigan Daily for and by people of color. You can read articles written by other students of color on their experiences, submit your own, or even join the MiC family by applying to work for this section of the Daily.
- Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA)
- Their goal is to make campus an inclusive and equitable space for students of all races and ethnicities. MESA offers support groups for students of color.
- Trotter Multicultural Center
- Trotter Multicultural Center serves as a campus facilitator, convener, and coordinator of intercultural engagement and inclusive leadership education initiatives for University of Michigan students.
- Young, Gifted, @ Risk and Resilient
- A video toolkit to support the well-being of students of color created by University of Michigan’s National Center for Institutional Diversity. This video series features scholars and practitioners from across the country who provide evidence-based information for faculty, staff, and providers to foster a positive learning environment and support the mental health and well-being of students of color.
REGIONAL & NATIONAL RESOURCES
- 15 Mental Health Podcasts for People of Color
- Podcasts created by and for people of color covering mental health topics.
- BIPOC Mental Health Month Outreach Toolkit
- Includes BIPOC resources as well as facts on how racism and racial trauma impacts mental health.
- Black Lives Matter Meditation for Healing Racial Trauma
- A 17 minute guided meditation using mindfulness, affirmation, and metta (loving-kindness).
- Black Mental Health Resources | NAMI
- Information and links to resources about providers, self-care, and education.
- Filling our Cups: 4 Ways People of Color Can Foster Mental Health and Practice Restorative Healing
- Provides action steps that people of color can take to foster their mental health.
- Liberate Meditation App
- Meditations and talks designed for the BIPOC experience created by BIPOC.
- Melanin & Mental Health
- Variety of resources including Between the Sessions podcast and a Dope Therapist finder.
- Mental Health and the Black Student Athlete
- The University of Texas interviewed two scholars to get insight into how the culture of sports can both complicate and enhance black student athlete mental health.
- People of Color & Mental Illness Photo Project
- This photo project showcases people of color with mental illnesses.
- Students of Color Video Stories
- The Steve Fund is dedicated to the mental health and emotional well-being of students of color. This is a collection of stories of college students of color reflecting their experiences.
U-M CAMPUS-WIDE RESOURCES
URGENT / EMERGENCY SERVICES
U-M Psychiatric Emergency Services: (734) 936-5900 (24 hours)
Counseling & Psychological Services: (734) 764-8312 (Business Hours) | Counselor-on-Duty
Counseling & Psychological Services: (734) 764-8312 (After Hours) | Professional Consultation Available
ON-CAMPUS RESOURCES
- Community Provider Database
- Find private practice mental health providers in the community.
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
- Mental health, counseling, referral, concern for others; FREE for enrolled students.
- Eisenberg Family Depression Center
- Counseling, treatment through Michigan Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry, with free support groups and workshops; some insurance accepted.
- Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Fund
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Supports genetic research on bipolar disorder at U-M.
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- Spectrum Center
- The U-M Spectrum Center provides a comprehensive range of education, information and advocacy services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, faculty, and staff, their families and friends, and the campus community at large. The staff offers informal counseling for individuals as well as referrals to professional counseling both within and outside the University community.
- University Psychological Clinic
- Assessment, counseling, treatment; some insurance accepted.
- University Health Service
- Medication management for common mental health concerns.
- UHS Wellness Coaching
- Wellness coaching is a holistic approach to examining how personal wellness interacts with one’s values, goals and motivations.
- University of Michigan Addiction Treatment Services (UMATS)
- Assessment, treatment for individuals with alcohol and other drug concerns; some insurance accepted.
ONLINE RESOURCES
- Campus Mind Works
- The Campus Mind Works website was created to support the mental health of University of Michigan students. This site provides quick access to all support services on campus through a searchable database, and includes information to help students manage their mental health while in college.
- Academic Support Services
- The University of Michigan offers a variety of academic support services to help you succeed academically. This website is designed to help you learn about the wide range of services on campus.
- MiTalk
- MiTalk is a website created by Counseling & Psychological Services for University of Michigan students. This site includes online screenings for depression and anxiety, skill-building tools for stress management and academic skills, as well as digitally recorded lectures, events, and workshops, and downloadable videos.
NATIONAL RESOURCES
URGENT / EMERGENCY SERVICES
- Call 911
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
- Crisis Text Line: Text “Start” to 741-741
ADDITIONAL NATIONAL RESOURCES
- Active Minds, Inc.
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The nation’s only peer-to-peer organization dedicated to the mental health of college students.
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- American Association of Suicidology
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Programs, public education, and training for professionals and volunteers, and serves as a clearinghouse for information about suicide.
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- American Foundation of Suicide Prevention
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Works toward understanding and preventing suicide through research and education, and to reaching out to people with mood disorders and those affected by suicide.
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- American Psychiatric Association
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Information about mental health from the APA.
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- Anxiety and Depression Association of America
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Non-profit organization dedicated to the early diagnosis, treatment and cure of anxiety disorders. (Mobile Apps Directory)
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- Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
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Patient-directed organization focusing on depression and bipolar disorder. DBSA works to ensure that people living with mood disorders are treated equitably.
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- Families for Depression Awareness
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Helps families recognize and cope with depressive disorders.
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- National Institute of Mental Health
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Information about mental health from the U.S. government.
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- National Network of Depression Centers
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The NNDC develops and fosters connections among members to use the power of its network, to advance scientific discovery, and to provide stigma free, evidence-based care to patients with depressive and bipolar illnesses.
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- Step UP!
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A program by the University of Arizona C.A.T.S. Life Skills Program and the NCAA to raise awareness of helping behaviors, increase motivation to help, develop skills and confidence when responding to problems or concerns, and ensure the safety and well-being of self and others.
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- Suicide Prevention Resource Center
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A federally funded organization that provides prevention support, training, and resource materials to strengthen suicide prevention networks.
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- ULifeline
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An online resource center for college student mental health and emotional well being, aimed at students and campus professionals..
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