ECU SAAC Promotes Mental Health Awareness Week
September 26, 2017 | General
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The ECU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has partnered with the Student Government Association (SGA) and ECU's Center for Counseling and Student Development to host several events throughout the week of Sept. 25-29 to raise awareness about mental health.
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The American Athletic Conference SAAC kicked off its year-long initiative Monday with a Social Media Day. Conference and member institutions accounts posted information, statistics and videos to shine light on the issues surrounding mental health in athletics. Each post included the #Pow6rfulMinds tagline, which highlights the conference's commitment to student-athlete well-being and academic success.
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With some of their peers overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, body image, and depression, The American SAAC representatives hope to defeat the negative stigma that accompanies mental illness and to highlight the resources available on campus to help those in need.
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"Mental Health Awareness Week is extremely important so that we can end the stigma associated with mental health problems," men's tennis student-athlete and ECU SAAC President Austin Allen said. "Across the American Conference, everyone is stepping up to show that it's okay if you don't feel okay. Especially as student-athletes, we understand that life can be tough, and we want to show that everyone should be willing to seek help if they are experiencing a mental health issue."
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The conference will produce a video featuring clips from all the various campus Mental Health Awareness initiatives, and the video will debut at the conference's April 6-7 Academic Symposium, at which research regarding student-athlete health and well-being will be presented.
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Mental Health Awareness Week Events
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The American Athletic Conference SAAC kicked off its year-long initiative Monday with a Social Media Day. Conference and member institutions accounts posted information, statistics and videos to shine light on the issues surrounding mental health in athletics. Each post included the #Pow6rfulMinds tagline, which highlights the conference's commitment to student-athlete well-being and academic success.
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With some of their peers overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, body image, and depression, The American SAAC representatives hope to defeat the negative stigma that accompanies mental illness and to highlight the resources available on campus to help those in need.
Â
"Mental Health Awareness Week is extremely important so that we can end the stigma associated with mental health problems," men's tennis student-athlete and ECU SAAC President Austin Allen said. "Across the American Conference, everyone is stepping up to show that it's okay if you don't feel okay. Especially as student-athletes, we understand that life can be tough, and we want to show that everyone should be willing to seek help if they are experiencing a mental health issue."
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The conference will produce a video featuring clips from all the various campus Mental Health Awareness initiatives, and the video will debut at the conference's April 6-7 Academic Symposium, at which research regarding student-athlete health and well-being will be presented.
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Mental Health Awareness Week Events
- Monday: Social Media Push with the slogan: #Pow6rfulmindsÂ
- Tuesday: Therapy dogs available for our student-athletes to visit from 4-6 pm.
- Wednesday: SAAC and SGA will pass out green ribbons from 10:30-2:15 on campus in front of Dowdy to raise awareness for mental health. ECU's Center for Counseling and Student Development will have a table with Mental Health Resources available for students at ECU.
- Thursday: "Boost your Mood with Food" station outside of the Murphy Center staffed with a dietitian from Student Health to help teach student-athletes about good food choices that will help boost their moods.
- Friday: At the volleyball match there will be a pregame announcement read about Mental Health Awareness and the players will have the option to wear a small green bow on their shoe if they would like to support the initiative.
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