.png)
25 Mental Health Resources
Links to websites for mental health resources*:
This blog contains links and references to other internet sites that may serve as resources for athletes, coaches, parents, and others involved in sport seeking knowledge or requiring support in the areas of mental health. Please note that Inside Rival does not endorse viewpoints expressed or guarantee the accuracy of information found on these sites. Further, Inside Rival does not control these other websites and we encourage you to read the privacy policy and Terms of Condition and Use of every website you visit. Our attempt is to connect you to already existing resources within your organization, additional non-profit organizations, or to free and accessible resources and services.
Please, no solicitation from for-profit businesses to have your information included or organizations not relevant to athletics and/or mental health - thank you.
*Websites are relevant to the United States (US), Canada (CA), and Australia (AUS) at this time only. Although some resources may be country specific, many offer online tools that are relevant and useful regardless of borders.
Contents:
Coaches & Parents
Note: Some resources may cross over into other categories.
Last updated 5/04/22 | Now with 34 resources (and growing!)
This list is not all inclusive and other resources may exist.
If you're in need of immediate help:
US: 1-800-273-8255
CA: 833-456-4566
AUS: 13 11 14
Or contact your emergency services.
Olympians:
1. https://olympics.com/athlete365/mentally-fit/
“Athlete365 supports athletes on and off the field of play through relevant advice, services and tools. We encourage athletes to lead conversations and work across sport to deliver an athlete-led approach. Our activity is focused on key areas that address an Athlete’s needs no matter where they are on their journey. Our mission is to make Athletes’ lives better and to support the world’s biggest community of elite and Olympic level Athletes. The Mentally Fit Helpline is a free and confidential mental health and well-being support service available to all Olympians and Paralympians at Games-time. If you need support, we’re here 24 hours a day in over 70 languages.”
For all Olympians
2. https://www.teamusa.org/MentalHealth
"Team USA Mental Health Support Line, licensed mental health provider registry, SafeSport helpline, access to apps and more for USA athletes. If you are a Team USA athlete and are looking to connect with a mental health provider (24/7) anywhere in the world who can assist in the management of mental health crises or provide resources related to mental health and wellness, please reach out to the Team USA Mental Health Support Line at +1 (719) 866-CALL."
Team USA Only
3. https://www.mygameplan.ca/resources/health
“Game Plan, powered by Deloitte, is Canada’s total athlete wellness program that strives to support national team athletes to live better and more holistic lives. Through the development of their skills and network, athletes are able to focus on health, education, and career opportunities both during their high-performance career and beyond. The program helps to develop mentally stronger athletes who apply what they have learned as leaders in sport for the betterment of themselves and their communities. Game Plan is a collaboration between the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), Sport Canada and Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSIN) to provide the best resources this country has to offer to our national team athletes.”
Team Canada Only
4. https://athletics.ca/safesport/prevention/
“At Athletics Canada, we believe that to succeed at every level of sport, mental health must be prioritized every bit as much as physical health. Everyone’s mental health is important, including our athletes, coaches, administrators and their respective support teams. Paying attention to, and caring for, our mental health ensures that we stay healthy throughout our careers in sport and beyond. Athletics Canada’s High Performance Mental Health Lead, Dr. Heather Wheeler, is setting the stage for a Mental Health Strategy that aims to educate and create a plan for better support for mental health at Athletics Canada. Dr. Wheeler is a Registered Clinical Psychologist based out of Toronto, Ont.”
Team Canada Only
Pro Athletes:
5. https://www.mlb.com/player-resource-center/wellness
“Major League Baseball is committed to the well-being of our players, on and off the field. We provide a variety of services, including free and confidential counseling, a 24/7 hotline and external educational resources to encourage and support positive mental health practices.”
MLB and Players' Family
6. https://nbpa.com/mentalwellness
“We believe that mental health and wellness is at the core of maintaining balance between a player's professional, business, personal, family, and spiritual lives. Our goal is to establish a safe place to assist NBA players to uncover the essence of who they are and to achieve excellence.”
NBA
7. https://www.nfllifeline.org/resources/
“Being successful on and off the field sometimes requires a little support. A variety of NFL and community resources are available to help you and your family navigate any challenge — physical, professional, or emotional — and that help can make a big difference. Narrow the list of resources below by selecting from the criteria in the left column, or expand it to browse the full list. For immediate, independent, and confidential support, call the NFL Life Line at (800) 506-0078.“
NFL and Players' Family
Collegiate Athletes:
“Founded in 2014, SAMHI is a Canadian charity working to promote the mental health and well-being of post-secondary student-athletes.”
Canadian Collegiate Student-Athletes
9. https://www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/mental-health
“The SSI believes mental health is a part of, not apart from, athlete health. Mental health exists on a continuum, with resilience and thriving on one end of the spectrum and mental health disorders that disrupt a college athlete’s functioning and performance at the other. We strive to improve access to quality mental healthcare with the goal of creating a culture where care seeking for mental health issues is as normative as care seeking for physical injuries.” Please also see: https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2016/8/4/mental-health-educational-resources.aspx
US Collegiate Student-Athletes
10. https://thehiddenopponent.com/
“We are an accredited non-profit and advocacy group that raises awareness for student-athlete mental health and addresses the stigma within sports culture. We empower athletes around the world to face the hidden opponent together.”
US Collegiate Student-Athletes
11. https://www.activeminds.org/
"Alison recognized that Brian’s story is the story of thousands of young people who suffer in silence; who, despite their large numbers, think they are totally alone. A majority of mental illnesses start between ages 14 and 24 when teens and young adults are in school, and suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students. Active Minds has since become the premier organization impacting young adults and mental health. Now on more than 600 campuses, we directly reach more than 1.9 million students each year through campus awareness campaigns, events, advocacy, outreach, and more."
Not Athlete Specific; For the US and CA general college population
12. https://jedfoundation.org/mental-health-resource-center/
“The Jed Foundation’s Mental Health Resource Center provides essential information about common emotional health issues and shows teens and young adults how they can support one another, overcome challenges, and make a successful transition to adulthood.”
Not Athlete Specific; For the US and CA general college population AND youth. Look for their Campus or High School programs.
Student-athletes, don't forget! Your campus typically has a wealth of student services to help you navigate your college experience. They often include:
Campus Counseling Center/ Wellness Center
Accessibility Center/ Learning Support or Academic Accommodation
Academic Advising/ Career Works
International Student Support
Bonus: To help connect you to resources on campus, check out your university's website or speak with:
Your Resident Assistant or anyone in Residence Life and Student Affairs (a big part of their job is connecting students to the right place on campus).
Your academic advisor, athletic compliance, or your program's department head.
A coach, athletic trainer, professor or other trusted faculty and staff you can turn to.
Youth:
“Our mental health is an important part of our overall health and it can change from day to day. We must look after our mental health just like we do with our physical health. Here you will find information, self-checks, tips, apps & tools, resources and stories from other young people. Foundry is a province-wide network of integrated health and social service centres for young people. Foundry centres provide a one-stop-shop for young people to access mental health care, substance use services, primary care, social services and youth and family peer supports.”
Not Athlete Specific; For Ages 12-24 Across CA (services specific to BC)
14. https://kidshelpphone.ca/topic/emotional-well-being/
“We offer a wide range of articles, tools and resources on our site to help young people through challenges or experiences they might face. We also have professional counseling support and a variety of resources to help youth in any moment of need.”
Not Athlete Specific; For Youth Across CA
15. https://www.kidshealth.org/en/teens/your-mind/
“Being healthy means dealing with the changes in your body - and your mind. Relationships, body image, families, emotions ... sort it all out in this section.”
Not Athlete Specific; For Youth Across the US
16. https://www.youthspace.ca/
“Youthspace.ca is an online crisis & emotional support chat service. We listen without judgement, and keep chats confidential & anonymous.”
Not Athlete Specific; For Youth Across CA
17. https://nami.org/Your-Journey/Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults/Kids
“To be able to provide the best possible care for your children’s mental health, it is helpful to be aware of what to look for, when to worry and how to respond.” By the National Alliance on Mental Illness
Not Athlete Specific; For Kids, Teens, and Young Adults Across the US
18. https://au.reachout.com/mental-health-issues
"It’s normal at various times to feel sad, stressed, angry or anxious. But when these feelings last for longer than usual and start to affect your everyday life, it's important to find out what's going on and what you can do about it.
Not Athlete Specific; For Kids, Teens, AND their Parents Across AUS
Coaches & Parents:
19. http://www.recognizetorecover.org/mental-health#mental-health-resources
“Athletes are just as likely to suffer from mental health issues as non-athletes. The very nature of sport can bring about psychological issues in athletes, even though participation in athletics has many benefits. It is important to understand the signs of mental health disorders and how to address them to limit impact on participation in sport and daily life.”
From the US Soccer Federation; For the General Population
20. https://mindhealth.nba.com/
"NBA Mind Health wants to remind you to pause and check in with yourself. Ask yourself how you’re feeling and what you can do to support those around you. Like shooting 100 free throws or lifting weights, finding ways to take care of your mind can lay the foundation for wellness and success."
Great for All Parents and Coaches; look for their 'Next Level Mentality Series' specifically for Ages 9-14.
21. https://www.nays.org/resources/more/free-mental-health-challenges-training/
The National Alliance for Youth Sports provides free training to any NAYS Coach and can be added to your existing membership.
For Youth Coaches Across the US
22. https://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/emotional-injuries
“MomsTeam.com is the premier online youth sports information gateway for the 90 million youth sports parents seeking advice, community and product information from a world-class team of expert psychologists, nutritionists, athletes, medical doctors, journalists coaches, referees and parents dedicated to one mission: to make sure that youth sports is safe for all children ages 3 to 23.”
For All Parents (US Based)
“Are you an athlete, or parent or coach of an athlete, that may have experienced a concussion? If so, this page will help guide you in finding useful information to better understand, prevent, identify, diagnose, and treat a concussion.”
Concussion Education for All Parents and Coaches (US Based)
Additional Resources: Concussion in Sport Symposium 2022: Demonstrating Canadian Leadership https://sirc.ca/concussion/concussion-research/symposium-materials/ (CA Based)
“Eating disorders are challenging and difficult enough for trained professionals to deal with, so we know how important it is to provide you with resources to help you to handle disordered-eating situations that may arise. Experts in the field have contributed to the Coach and Trainer Toolkit, which we hope will provide the information and resources you need to confidently face any situation involving disordered eating or an eating disorder in your sport environment.”
Disordered Eating Education for All Coaches (US Based)
25. https://jvavolleyball.org/mental-health-guidance-and-resources-for-coaches-athletes-and-parents/
“Often, the most important conversations we have come with a degree of discomfort. The goal is to lean-in to this discomfort through listening and sharing. Through this, we can find a path forward around shared goals that honor the mental, physical, and emotional needs of young athletes during this time.”
From the Junior Volleyball Association; For All Parents and Coaches (US Based)
