America East & AE SAAC Establish #BetterTo9ether Mental Health Initiative
BOSTON – No one can do it alone. We are all #BetterTo9ether.
After enacting extensive measures to address the stigma surrounding mental health the last several years, America East and its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) are taking the next steps towards destigmatization through the establishment of the #BetterTo9ether initiative. The initiative will focus on creating more mentally healthy environments for student-athletes across all nine America East campuses through education, outreach, events and more.
“There is no issue of more importance than the overall well-being of our student-athletes,” said America East Commissioner, Amy Huchthausen. “I commend our America East SAAC on creating the #BetterTo9ether initiative and leading the way to prioritize mental health across our conference through dialogue, activities and awareness. Our student-athletes will be better individuals and teammates as a result of these efforts, which we believe will improve their collegiate experience and position them for lifelong success.”
America East SAAC identified mental health as a priority two years ago and since then has worked tirelessly as a committee to shed light on this important topic on each of their campuses, throughout the league, regionally and nationally.
“We've decided it’s time to take the next steps towards improving student-athlete mental wellness,” said Stony Brook senior and America East SAAC Vice President, Darian Sorouri. “#BetterTo9ether symbolizes the combined efforts of the America East SAAC and the conference’s nine member institutions to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health.”
“The great beauty of team sports is the friendship and bond that is created among teammates through all the wins and losses of a season,” said University of Vermont Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and Academic Affairs and SAAC Advisor, Cathy Rahill. “These special ties can be powerful and impactful off the playing field when teammates step up and support one another about mental health concerns.”
At the forefront of the initiative will be the #BetterTo9ether Games. The Games, which will take place on all America East campuses this spring, pitting student-athletes of all class years, genders and sports against each other in activities that will promote a fun, positive and inclusive environment. Select games will focus specifically on educating student-athletes about mental health, teaching mindful and gratitude practices and reinforcing where and how to access resources available on their campuses. The conference will provide each member institution’s SAAC with a $500 grant to be put towards the event.
“UMBC established an event last spring that championed teamwork and trust in regard to mental health and that will serve as the model for the BetterTo9ether games,” said Soururi. “Using that as a foundation, together we will the strengthen the bonds already present on each of our institution’s campus and work towards destigmatizing the act of getting mental health help.”
America East has proven to a be a leader in emphasizing the importance of mental health, wellness and safety since establishing its Health & Safety Summit in 2016. Each year, the summit brings together medical professionals, administrators and select student-athletes to discuss a wide range of topics related to health and well-being. In addition to the summit and the #BetterTo9ether initiative, the conference created a mental health working group which recommended several actions that were adopted in June, 2018. Additionally, the conference provides $500 grants to each of institutional SAAC annually to address issues associated with mental health on their campus.
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.
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