A note from NYSPHSAA …

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s (NYSPHSAA) Mental Health Awareness Week is Monday, May 3 – Friday, May 7,2021. The goal of the initiative is to encourage schools to provide training to athletic administrators, coaches, and student-athletes, to help them learn how to identify signs & symptoms of mental illness, break the stigma associated with it, and provide resources to those who need them.

As an association, we would like you join the initiative as we believe athletic directors and coaches have a lasting impact on the lives of our student-athletes. According to the Mental Health Association of New York State, early signs of mental illness are often mistaken for typical characteristics of childhood and adolescent development. As a result, being able to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness in your student-athletes is imperative.

To join the initiative, NYSPHSAA has provided a toolkit to make it easier for schools and athletic departments to participate. The downloadable toolkit and presentation can be found on the Safety & Research page of the NYSPHSAA website (on the top left side of the page). The link is provided below. This year, our focus is on highlighting positive mental health strategies!

In addition to your participation through social media, we ask you, your coaches, and student-athletes sign up for the National Federation of High School’s (NFHS) Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention course (link below). This course helps identify types of mental health issues experienced by students. It also provides strategies for students coping with mental health conditions and encourages students to seek help when needed, for themselves and their peers.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the initiative at kjadin@nysphsaa.org.

Thank you for your support and more importantly the dedication you put toward the success of student-athletes each and every day!