Goal

The goal of Westcliff Sports Medicine is to provide proper education, recognition, and management of mental health concerns for the university’s student-athletes. Westcliff athletic health care providers include certified athletic trainers (ATCs), the team physician (MD), and community based mental health professionals.

Education

The Westcliff University Sports Medicine Staff will provide student-athletes with an annual educational session providing basic information on mental health and a handout listing community-based mental health resources. The Sports Medicine staff will also provide an annual education session for the Athletics Administrative staff and coaches on basic information of mental health concerns, and distribute a handout listing community-based mental health resources, and the mental health crisis emergency action plan.

Recognition of a Possible Mental Health Concern

Student-athletes with mental health concerns can display many unique signs and symptoms. Many psychological disorders share overlapping signs and symptoms that manifest into behavioral, cognitive, emotional/psychological, and physical/medical symptoms. It is important to remember these are not separate or exclusive categories. A list of symptoms for each category is listed below. It is not meant to be exhaustive. 

  • Behavioral

    • Disruption of daily activities 

    • Social withdrawal 

    • Irresponsibility, lying 

    • Legal issues, fighting, difficulty with authority 

    • Decrement in sport or academic performance 

    • Substance use

  • Cognitive

    • Suicidal thoughts

    • Poor concentration 

    • Confusion/difficulty making decisions 

    • Obsessive thoughts 

    • All-or-nothing thinking 

    • Negative self-talk

  • Emotional/Psychological

    • Feeling out of control 

    • Mood Swings 

    • Excessive worry/fear 

    • Agitation/irritability 

    • Low self-esteem 

    • Lack of motivation

  • Physical/Medical

    • Sleep difficulty 

    • Change in appetite and/or weight 

    • Shaking, trembling 

    • Fatigue, tiredness, weakness 

    • Gastrointestinal complaints, headaches 

    • Overuse injuries

 

If the student-athlete has become a danger to themselves or others or severely disabled, they may be suffering from a mental health crisis. Behaviors or symptoms of a mental health crisis includes:

  • Suicidal and/or homicidal ideation

  • Sexual assault

  • Agitation or threatening behavior, acute psychosis or paranoia

  • Acute delirium/confusional state

  • Acute intoxication or drug overdose  

Referral

If a concern is expressed to a member of the Athletic Department, by a student-athlete that they themselves, or one of their teammates are exhibiting signs of unhealthy or dangerous behavior (purging, calorie restriction, depression, suicidal thoughts, etc.) the following steps should be taken:

  • The staff member should continue the discussion, in confidence and reassure the student-athlete that they are there to assist in obtaining the needed help from the proper professionals.

    • If student-athletes present with a mental health crisis (as outlined in the Mental Health EAP) creating a danger to themselves or others, staff member should activate the mental health crisis EAP

    • If student-athletes need urgent mental health evaluation the staff member should strongly encourage them to contact the IMPACT Student Life Assistance Program (SLA). The 24/7 immediate assistance line is accessible at (866) 780-0855. The staff member will then contact the Senior Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Medicine to begin follow up care. If a student-athlete denies wanting to contact SLA, provide the additional resources described below. Make sure to document the interaction with the student-athlete.

    • Any non-emergent or urgent mental health crisis should be brought to the attention of the assigned athletic trainer to that student-athlete’s team to begin the referral process. If the athletic trainer cannot be reached, then contact the Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Medicine.

  • Do not inform any other Westcliff University staff members or the student-athlete’s parents at that time. 

  • The student-athlete should understand that there will be no punitive consequences from the athletic staff due to the condition. Any restriction from training for medical conditions will be decided by the team physician.

 

The Sports Medicine Staff should refer non-emergent mental health concerns to one of the following resources:

  • IMPACT Student Life Assistance

Student-athletes will schedule an appointment to see a licensed mental health professional using the following link: https://aoh.eapintake.com/. The SLA program allows for 3 free sessions per issue. 

  • Check with the Student-Athlete’s Insurance

Check to see what services would be provided by their insurance (remind the student-athlete that if their insurance is through their parents, an EOB may be sent to the parents)

  • Hoag Mental Health Center

Melinda Hoag Center for Healthy Living

307 Placentia Ave., Suite 100B

Newport Beach, CA 92663

949-764-6542

  • Kaiser Permanente

Orange County: 714-644-6480

Additional Resources

Emergency Mental Health Awareness