Beyond talk : a multiple case study exploring athletic directors’ and trainers’ perceptions of mental health support systems in college athletics.

Many view college athletics as an extension of a well-supported environment buffered from negativity. However, depression, self-harm, and suicide have devastated collegiate athletics for decades. Some student-athletes participate in high-risk behaviors to mitigate their stress, while colleges and universities struggle to find the right support systems to meet the needs of their diverse population. While the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has recognized that more work needs to be done to support mental health in athletics, they have only provided best practices and written resources on the topic.

The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore athletic directors’ and trainers’ perceptions of mental health support systems in college athletics and which coping strategies student-athletes use. I selected five participants based on interest, years of experience in an athletic department leadership position, and NCAA athletic offerings at their colleges or universities. To conduct the study, I used a questionnaire to gather information about the participants including their perceptions related to mental health support systems at their colleges and universities, conducted a semi-structured interview with each participant, and gathered artifacts. The focus of my questions included topics related to the transactional model of stress and coping (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) and addressed issues of stressors, resources, coping methods, and coping resources. I also explored participants’ perceptions of the NCAA’s work on mental health and potential next steps.

The study had six findings that speak to student-athlete stressors, college and university mental health resources, student-athlete coping responses, student-athlete and college and university outcomes related to the stress and coping process, and a reflection on the NCAA’s work with mental health and potential resource challenges. This study is relevant to collegiate student-athletes, athletic department leaders, college and university leaders, and the NCAA. The implications include more mental health resources for student-athletes, more training about mental health for athletic departments, and more human and financial resources for colleges and universities, especially those that do not have a large revenue.