Jacksonville, Florida- In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the entire Edward Waters University athletics staff engaged in LivingWorks safeTALK training, an interactive mental health training aimed at providing professionals with powerful life-saving skills. During the training provided by LivingWorks, coaches, trainers, and staff were given scenarios and tools to best identify and deal with mental health situations.

Concern about mental health among student-athletes is not just an Edward Waters issue. According to the NCAA Student Athlete Well-Being Study, in Fall 2020, student-athletes reported feeling increased levels of exhaustion, hopelessness and depression, all feelings exacerbated by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The training consisted of a training session led by professionals from LivingWorks. Part presentation, part interactive experience, the training taught all of the athletics staff how to handle a variety of mental-health-related situations, including recognizing warning signs, receiving someone who is in distress and connecting athletes with other important resources if necessary. 

At the conclusion of the training, each staff member received certificates of completion and felt more empowered to recognize and respond when a student-athlete is experiencing a mental health crisis and when to connect them will essential resources. This training is a first of ongoing mental health training that will be conducted with athletic department staff and student-athletes.

Follow The Tigers
For complete coverage of Edward Waters University Athletics, follow the Tigers on social media @EWU_Athletics (Twitter), /EWUTigers (Facebook) and @EWU_Athletics (Instagram) or visit the official home of Edward Waters Athletics at EWUTigerPride.com