To better support the mental well-being of student-athletes, Division III is working with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to offer fully funded Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for Higher Education training to institutions across the division, with a focus on head coaches and athletic trainers.

Division III schools are eligible to receive one fully funded training during the program, which launched in March and will be in effect until Aug. 1, 2027.

“In our efforts to assist Division III institutions with supporting their student-athletes’ mental health, we are excited to engage the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to provide this critical training,” said Louise McCleary, vice president of Division III. “Our goal is to equip those who interact with student-athletes daily with the tools to recognize and respond to mental health challenges, build resilience, and reduce stigma.”?

The 2022 NCAA Coach Well-Being Study underscored the need for expanded mental health support in college athletics. More than 80% of coaches reported spending increased time addressing mental health concerns with their student-athletes compared with prepandemic levels, and many identified mental health as the top issue facing their teams. These findings reinforced the importance of MHFA training as a timely and valuable resource for Division III coaches and athletic trainers. As of late July, 66 Division III institutions have completed the MHFA training.

MHFA for Higher Education is an evidence-based, interactive program that teaches individuals how to:

Recognize signs and symptoms of common mental health and substance use challenges among student-athletes.

Use the five-step MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE).

Interact with someone in crisis.

Connect student-athletes with the help they need.

Practice self-care to support themselves and others.

The training also aligns with recommendations from the NCAA Mental Health Advisory Group and supports on-campus implementation of the NCAA Mental Health Best Practices?.

Jennifer Ostrowski, director of the athletic training program at Moravian, participated in the MHFA program before this Division III engagement. She said the training has made a noticeable impact at Moravian, especially within athletics.

“In this population, I have found that the knowledge gained as part of the MHFA program has helped decrease the stigma related to mental illness in athletics,” she said. “The skills and techniques have empowered coaches to approach athletes with their concerns and encourage them to seek professional mental health services.”

Judith LeDoux, another certified Mental Health First Aider and project director of MHFA for Public Safety at Anna Maria College, echoed that sentiment.

“As someone who is certified in MHFA, I see firsthand how the concepts and training can be beneficial within college life, as well as in athletics. For many college athletes, they see the trainers and coaches as their closest and most trusted adult figures on campus,” she said. “Having them trained in MHFA can only provide a benefit to athletics staff and student-athletes.”

Catie Gilman, associate athletic trainer at Mount Holyoke, said the MHFA training fits naturally into the day-to-day responsibilities of athletic trainers.

“As an athletic trainer, mental health is as much a part of my job as physical health,” she said. “MHFA equips coaches, athletic trainers, admin and any other student-forward employee with the ability to recognize when a student needs support or resources, as well as the confidence to activate proper resources in a crisis.”

Through this program, up to 30 individuals at each active Division III school are eligible to participate in a 7½-hour, in-person training with expert MHFA instructors on their campus. Upon completion, participants will be certified in MHFA for Higher Education for three years.

For more information or to schedule a training session, visit mhfa.org/ncaa.