The University of New Haven is strengthening support for the mental well-being of student-athletes through its Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) program.
As more student athletes recognize the role mental health plays in their academic success and athletic performance, CAPS has developed targeted resources to address their unique challenges.
Nicole Belanger, athletics coordinator for CAPS, said, “We’ve certainly gotten feedback from student athletes about wanting CAPS to be more available and present. These resources must be actually utilized.”
One initiative has been the introduction of mental health screenings specifically for athletes, a first for the university.
“We’re working closely with athletics to review how the screenings went and make adjustments if needed,” said Berlanger. A student athlete on the women’s basketball team, Merit Innocent, described the program as a crucial resource in managing the stresses of both academics and athletics.
“CAPS is like therapy for us, helping us not only manage our stress but also mentally prepare for both academics and athletics,” said Innocent. “I think when your mind is in the right place, everything else improves, whether it’s your grades or how you play on the field.” The growing use of CAPS by student-athletes is also tied to an increasing sense of comfort and trust in mental health resources.
Innocent said, “A lot of students hesitate because they worry about balancing everything, but if they know there’s mental and emotional support like CAPS, it could give them the confidence to take on sports without sacrificing their academics or well-being.”
As CAPS continues to expand its support, Innocent said it is important for student-athletes to maintain balance.
“I want to keep my grades up and stay mentally healthy,” she said. “CAPS gives me the tools to stay grounded and focused, so I can push myself without feeling overwhelmed.”
“As athletes’ mental health improves, their performance on the field or court is likely to follow, but we still need to figure out how to measure that impact,” said Berlanger.
CAPS continues to support student athletes while working on new ways to increase their impact and help student athletes on and off the field.
