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Big Ten Announces Mental Health Initiatives, Including 31-Person Cabinet

The Big Ten Conference announced multiple mental health initiatives on Monday, including the formation of a 31-person “Mental Health and Wellness Cabinet”, in conjunction with May being Mental Health Awareness Month.

The cabinet includes representatives from all 14 Big Ten institutions, along with sport affiliate members Johns Hopkins and Notre Dame.

In addition to the formation of the cabinet, the conference also announced that all Big Ten student-athletes, coaches, full-time members of university athletic departments and conference staff members will receive free, unlimited access to Calm, a mental fitness app. Calm is “the No. 1 mental fitness app for helping individuals experience lower stress, less anxiety, improved focus and more restful sleep,” the conference writes in its press release.

“When I was hired as the Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, a core pillar of my vision was to make sure that we educate, embrace, engage and empower our more than 9,500 student-athletes,” said Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren. “This is a complex and stressful time in our society and the mental health and wellness of our Big Ten family is a critical component of our focus. The Cabinet will be instrumental for us both short and long term, as we pursue our goal of creating and maintaining the most comprehensive mental health and wellness platform in college athletics.

“Our hope is that the Calm mental fitness app will provide an immediate resource for all Big Ten student-athletes, coaches, athletic department staff members and conference staff during these unprecedented times and is only the first of many steps that we will take in the area of mental health and wellness. We are fortunate to have so many professionals on our campuses who have dedicated their lives to tackling mental health issues. We were driven to supplement their inspiring work with additional resources, important under normal circumstances, but even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Established in 2019 by Commissioner Warren, the cabinet’s aim is to promote “optimal mental health for student-athletes.” Mental health educators, medical doctors, faculty athletic representatives and senior woman administrators are among those represented in the cabinet.

“I think the work the Big Ten Conference is doing with regard to mental health initiatives is incredibly important,” Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day said. “Forming a Mental Health and Wellness Cabinet is a reflection of the conference’s leadership, engagement and support for mental health initiatives. These efforts will help bring much-needed attention and awareness to the subject of mental health.”

BIG TEN MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CABINET

SCHOOL NAME TITLE
Illinois Randy Ballard Assoc. AD, Sports Medicine/Director of Integrated Performance
Dr. Tiffany White Assoc. Professor of Business Admin./Bruce and Anne Strohm Faculty Fellow
Indiana Dr. Troy Moles Director of Counseling and Sport Psychology
Mattie White SWA/Sr. Assoc. AD for Academic Services and Excellence Academy
Iowa Dr. Aubrette Kinne Embedded Staff Psychologist – Department of Athletics
Dr. Lisa Woodroffe Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Johns Hopkins Erin Long Director of Sport Performance & Wellness
Elizabeth Winberry Director of Student Outreach and Support
Maryland Dr. Michelle Garvin Director of Clinical and Sports Psychology
Dr. Sue Sherburne SWA/Sr. Assoc. AD, Academics & Student Development
Michigan Abigail Eiler Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work
Greg Harden Executive Assoc. AD
Michigan State Dr. Anthony Avellino Asst. Provost, Student Wellness, Health and Safety/HealthTeam Chief Medical Officer
Alan Haller Deputy Athletic Director
Minnesota Dr. Carly Anderson Director of Sport Psychology Services
Joi Thomas Sr. Assoc. AD, Health & Performance
Nebraska Dr. Brett Haskell Director of Sport Psychology
Dr. Brett Woods Assistant Director of Sport Psychology
Northwestern Dr. Courtney Albinson Assoc. Director, Sport Psychology
Dr. Jeff Mjaanes Director of Sports Medicine/Head Team Physician
Notre Dame Dr. Joey Ramaeker Counseling & Sport Psychologist
Dr. Niki Sims Asst. Director for Clinical Sport Psychology & Sport Psychologist
Ohio State Dr. Chelsi Day Sport Psychologist
Dr. James Houle Lead Sport Psychologist
Penn State Dr. Natalie Hernandez DePalma Asst. Director, Clinical Services
Dr. Carl Ohlson Asst. AD, Performance Psychology
Purdue Dr. Kelsey Dawson Sports Psychologist
Dr. Brad Foltz Sports Psychologist
Rutgers Dr. Joshua Bershad Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Peter Economou Assoc. Professor, Program Director, Applied Psychology
Wisconsin Dr. Cassie Pasquariello Director of Clinical and Sports Psychology

Among the other organizations joining the nation in support of Mental Health Awareness Month include:

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Dave Burleigh
4 years ago

Excellent steps in the right direction. I hope these organizations passionately follow through with their mission. Best of luck to them.

Ladyvoldisser
Reply to  Dave Burleigh
4 years ago

A bunch of pontificators in a room or conference call shouting “Herumph, Herumph, Herumph”. What a joke. Why only 31 “experts”? Heck – it would seem more appropriate to have a least 100 of the distinguished and educated self-important bureaucrats. Way too many women with hysteria on this committee too! I say give em an enema and send them on their way!

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Ladyvoldisser
4 years ago

Forgot your seroquel.

Ladyvoldisser
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

Ha Ha you are so funny!

B1G Daddy
Reply to  Ladyvoldisser
4 years ago

You sound fun.

B1G Daddy
4 years ago

Here’s Warren discussing the initiative with Big Ten Network’s Dave Revsine Monday.: https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork/status/1257350286986838016?s=20.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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