Student-Athlete Development and Well-being

The Department of Athletics provides a variety of services that support the development and well-being of Carolina’s 800+ student-athletes, including mental health services, sexual assault education and prevention, life skills, personal development, leadership skills and career services.

The Student-Athlete Development office, in the Department of Athletics, is committed to providing programming, opportunities and resources to enhance and support the student-athlete experience from recruitment to graduation and beyond, including the award-winning Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy. 

Beginning with New Student Orientation (see Process 4.0 Orientation) and continuing throughout a student-athlete’s career at Carolina, Student-Athlete Development offers a wide range of seminars and educational opportunities including sexual assault awareness and education; financial planning; alcohol education; and campus resources. Student-Athlete Development provides recommendations to student-athletes on a broad array of topics in the Game Plan platform, and encourages them to avail themselves to available campus resources and learning opportunities. Additionally, several affinity groups are available to student-athletes. 

The Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy (BCLA) provides leadership education and development to help student-athletes succeed at Carolina and to prepare them for leadership roles in their lives after college. This comprehensive developmental leadership program is supplemental to the leadership development that coaches provide to their student-athletes on a daily basis. 

The Leadership Academy is both comprehensive in scope and substantive in depth. Structurally, the Leadership Academy seeks to provide a pipeline of leaders to Carolina’s teams. Beyond that, Leadership Academy programming is an additional resource for coaches in the recruitment, identification, development of and partnership with leaders on their respective teams. 

In coordinating and organizing hours of leadership training for student-athletes and coaches annually, the Leadership Academy provides UNC’s student-athletes with consistent leadership development over the course of their tenure. 

Carolina NAVIGATE is the first-year component of the Richard A. Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy. The Department of Athletics requires all first-year student-athletes to participate in NAVIGATE. Student-athletes attend monthly meetings with their mentors and other invited guests. These meetings focus on the five elements of the Carolina CREED Statement and provide educational information, a supportive environment and small group discussions. Student-athletes learn personal leadership skills while pledging to abide by the Carolina CREED Statement: 

“As a University of North Carolina student-athlete, I pledge to make every effort to abide by the Carolina CREED as a show of my commitment to the University, the Department of Athletics, my team and myself. 

C – I will know and embrace the tradition and CULTURE of this great University and its athletics department 

R – I will RESPECT myself and others 

E – I will pursue EXCELLENCE in my academic work by striving to reach my academic potential while preparing for a career of significance 

E – I will EXCEL athletically by committing myself to performance excellence, team success and continual improvement 

D – I will DEVELOP the capacity to effectively lead myself and others.” 

Upperclass student-athletes work as peer mentors to first-year student-athletes. Mentors receive valuable training and learn to use educational/professional resources to support their efforts and help their charges with the following: 

Program Objectives: 

• Ease the transition from high school 
• Create social connections 
• Understand the importance of respecting leadership 
• Learn to effectively lead themselves 

Designed for a select group of “high potential” sophomore and junior student-athletes, the Emerging Leaders program provides prospective leaders with the insights, strategies, and skills necessary to become effective leaders on their team, on campus, and in the community. 

Program Objectives: 

• Identify and develop high potential leaders in their sophomore or junior years
• Create solid Leaders by Example and set the stage for developing Vocal Leaders
• Build a strong network of peer leaders
• Develop leaders who support and learn from current team captains/leaders (succession planning)
• Teach prospective leaders how to gain respect and develop leadership skills with their peer group

Designed for team captains and veteran student-athlete leaders from all teams, the Veteran Leaders program provides established team leaders with advanced leadership training and support.  The program teaches student-athletes the critical team leadership skills and insights necessary to be effective Vocal Leaders as they manage and conquer the day-to-day responsibilities and challenges of leadership. 

Program Objectives: 

• Encourage established leaders to step up and be Vocal Leaders on their teams
• Provide established leaders with ongoing support as they tackle the tough issues of team leadership
• Provide established leaders with a solid peer network for guidance and support
• Review and extend the insights and skills necessary to be a responsible and respected leader
• Establish a solid, cooperative, and ongoing partnership with the coaching staff 

Summer College Opportunities for Realizing Educational Success 

SCORES is a first-year experience workshop organized by the Department of Athletics for first-year football student-athletes. In operation since summer 2006, SCORES prepares freshman football players for academic and athletic life at UNC (see Process 4.4 SCORES). 

The program includes seminars on academic expectations, exploring a major, Honor Court, budgeting, NCAA Compliance, public safety and community service. SCORES seminars take place on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout Summer Session II. No course credit is given for participation in SCORES. 

SCORES is not a part of the Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy (BCLA). NAVIGATE is the first program in the BCLA and is mandatory for all first-year student-athletes (not just football). 

Each of UNC’s 28 competitive teams has two student-athlete representatives and two alternates on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC). Representatives attend monthly forums to discuss such topics as life skills programs, athletic department policies, and ACC and NCAA regulations. Representatives communicate their team’s perspectives on Department of Athletics issues and report back to their teammates about events and policies that will impact them. Members serve as liaisons to the Faculty Athletics Committee (FAC). UNC SAAC members also represent UNC in the conference-level SAAC and on the NCAA Division I SAAC.  Two members of SAAC attend meetings of the Faculty Athletics Committee. 

Student-athletes dedicate thousands of hours per year to community service and outreach in Chapel Hill and the surrounding area. Through the Carolina Outreach program, UNC’s student-athletes have given their time, talent and resources to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Durham school systems, UNC Hospitals, and organizations such as Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics and Charles House. 

Student-athletes have also launched and maintained their own community service projects, including the Sun Safety Project, field days for local elementary schools, Adopt-a-Classroom and Carolina Dreams. 

Student-Athlete Development offers career services and resources in conjunction with and complementary to UNC’s Office of Career Services and resources within UNC’s professional schools. These offices coordinate services to support student-athletes’ major and career choices. 

The Carolina Athletics Mental Health and Performance Psychology Program (MHPP) launched in January 2017, housed within Sports Medicine. The mission of MHPP is to provide comprehensive mental health and performance psychology services, increase the accessibility of mental health resources for student-athletes, and develop a model program through collaboration, innovation, and continual improvement and growth.  Of primary importance is the facilitation of mental health promoting environments with UNC Athletics, centered in evidence-based, preventative approaches, destigmatization, coach education and support, and training for all athlete-facing staff. 

MHPP places value on serving diverse student-athletes through accessibility to diverse providers, multiculturally competent practices, and outreach and programming tailored to the needs of diverse student-athletes. 

The MHPP clinical staff includes two full-time licensed psychologists and Certified Mental Performance Consultants and one full-time licensed clinical social worker. Each full-time provider serves as an assigned “point-person” for Varsity teams at UNC. In addition, MHPP has a Case Manager (licensed clinical social worker) and a full-time Fellow, along with part-time trainees.  

Early Identification  

MHPP facilitates annual mental health screening for new student-athletes, as part of their initial pre-participation exam. This allows for early identification of mental health concerns, as well as an opportunity to provide education about mental health services offered and how to access services. Returning student-athletes participate in annual mental health screenings as part of their standard preseason physicals. At this time, they will receive an annual reminder of services available. 

All student-athletes are eligible to receive individual mental health services. Student-athletes may set up an initial appointment by contacting the MHPP directly via email (AthleticsMHPP@email.unc.edu). Additionally, the student-athlete’s team physician or certified athletic trainer can make a direct referral.  

MHPP services are confidential for student-athletes pursuant to HIPPA and North Carolina state laws and ethics. At the initial appointment, student-athletes will receive informed consent regarding the services and limits of confidentiality. In the informed consent, communication within Sports Medicine for the purposes of coordination of care is discussed.  

All student-athletes are eligible to receive individual performance psychology services, following the same procedures described for mental health services. Performance psychology concerns are often connected with mental health concerns, which will be addressed in sessions as well. MHPP strives to incorporate evidence-based technology, such as biofeedback and neurofeedback to provide innovative and effective performance enhancement services. Performance psychology services are also provided through team sessions, as described in 18.2.3.  

Case Management and Referral Coordination: 

The MHPP case manager provides initial triage, assessment, and coordination of care. Student-athletes may be referred to mental health providers outside of MHPP, including Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) or community providers. Referrals are coordinated by the MHPP case manager. If specialty care or a higher level of care is recommended by MHPP, the MHPP case manager assists the student-athlete in coordinating a referral.  

Team performance psychology services are available to all Varsity teams. Coaches or student-athletes may contact their team point-person to initiate these services. The services may be focused on issues such as performance psychology, team cohesion, team dynamics, and leadership.  

The AEDT is a multidisciplinary team, consisting of MHPP Clinical Staff and Case Manager, and at least one representative physician, athletic trainer, and registered dietician representative. A risk stratification system is used to support consistency in determining which student-athletes are followed by the AEDT and guide decision-making. This core team meets regularly to monitor and collaborate on treatment progress and recommendations for higher risk student-athletes.  

A variety of groups are offered to student-athletes when there is sufficient interest: the Injured Athlete Group, the Medical Retirement Group, Transition Group, Disordered Eating and Body Image Group, Men’s Group, Student-Athletes of Color Group, etc. These groups are facilitated by an MHPP staff member and are confidential for the members of the group.  

Individual Substance Use Counseling is available to all student-athletes. The substance use policy encourages athletes to voluntarily identify if they are struggling with substance use to begin treatment proactively, through the “Safe Harbor program.” MHPP contracts with the Substance Treatment and Recovery (STAR) program through The UNC Hospital Department of Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic to provide psychoeducation and substance use counseling. Treatment is confidential. If a student-athlete tests above the threshold for a substance through institutional testing, a substance use evaluation is completed with STAR. If a higher level of care is deemed appropriate, the MHPP case manager will work the student-athlete to coordinate a referral.

CAPS 24/7 is a resource available 24 hours a day for all student-athletes, in the event of a mental health crisis. The Department of Sports Medicine has established an Emergency Action Plan for Mental Health Crisis in accordance with the NCAA Mental Health Best Practices. The Mental Health EAP identifies specific steps to take in a potential mental health emergency, as well as guidelines on the chain of communication. The MHPP case manager is available during business hours for urgent risk assessment, safety planning, and facilitation of hospitalization when needed. The UNC Emergency Department is utilized in cases of imminent risk to self or others. The Emergency Action Plan is reviewed with staff and individual emergencies are reviewed by the Emergency Care Committee to go over recommendations to improve future care. In addition, MHPP has developed procedures for post-crisis and catastrophic events.  

Coach and Staff Education  

Consistent with the UNC Athletics Strategic Plan, NCAA Mental Health Best Practices, ACC SAAC, and Transformation Committee recommendations, MHPP offers a variety of training and educational opportunities for coaches and student-athlete-facing staff related to mental health literacy, suicide prevention, trauma-informed practices, and other relevant mental health topics. In addition, MHPP staff are available for consultation with coaches and staff to provide guidance and support in navigating situations related to mental health of student-athletes. In addition, MHPP strives to provide programming for coaches that allows them to increase self-awareness, support their own mental health, and further develop their ability to foster a mental health supporting environment.  

Student-Athlete Outreach and Programming 

MHPP offers a variety of outreach and programming for student-athletes. These offerings are centered in mental health promotion, mental health awareness, and destigmatization. It is a priority to amplify student-athlete voices and to provide diverse perspectives in these outreach and programming offerings.