Expressing support for the designation of September 30, 2023, through October 7, 2023, as "National Student Athlete Mental Health Week".

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 732 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 732

 Expressing support for the designation of September 30, 2023, through 
  October 7, 2023, as ``National Student Athlete Mental Health Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 27, 2023

Mr. Carl (for himself, Mr. Allred, Mr. Trone, and Mr. Owens) submitted 
   the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                      Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for the designation of September 30, 2023, through 
  October 7, 2023, as ``National Student Athlete Mental Health Week''.

Whereas nearly 8,000,000 high school and more than 650,000 college students 
        currently participate in athletics;
Whereas 9,800 student athletes participated in a fall 2021 National Collegiate 
        Athletic Association (NCAA) survey on mental health, reporting elevated 
        levels of mental health concerns;
Whereas of the survey respondents--

    (1) only two-thirds indicated they knew where to seek mental health 
resources on campus;

    (2) less than half indicated they felt comfortable seeking mental 
health support on campus; and

    (3) just over half reported they knew how to help a teammate 
experiencing a mental health issue;

Whereas student athletes, like their nonathlete peers, experience issues 
        including stress, eating disorders, burnout, depression, and anxiety 
        which in the most severe cases if left untreated may lead to suicide or 
        suicidal ideation;
Whereas studies show student athletes may be less likely to seek counseling and 
        other professional help services;
Whereas mental health stigma especially among athletes contributes to student 
        athletes not seeking needed care or vocalizing their mental health 
        concerns to parents, peers, and coaches;
Whereas student athletes experience unique stressors, including expectations to 
        perform and achieve in sports on top of their academic requirements;
Whereas coaches and support staff are mentors to student athletes, and their 
        knowledge of stigmatizing language and mental health services and 
        resources can make a difference in the lives of athletes;
Whereas prominent athletes have forgone competitions to address their mental 
        health needs;
Whereas mental health and physical health are equally important components of 
        overall health;
Whereas better publicly available data is needed to track the mental health of 
        student athletes, including the rate of suicide among this demographic; 
        and
Whereas a week of public awareness and education campaigns to shine a light on 
        the mental health crisis is held the first week of October every year, 
        leading up to ``World Mental Health Day'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals of ``Mental Illness Awareness Week'' 
        and additionally supports the designation of a ``National 
        Student Athlete Mental Health Week'' to bring attention to the 
        unique mental health experience of our country's student 
        athletes;
            (2) encourages institutions of higher education and their 
        athletic departments to participate by addressing stigma and 
        highlighting resources for their student-athlete populations;
            (3) supports institutions of higher education and 
        organizations already engaged in the work of educating athletic 
        departments and students, including the NCAA's development of 
        data-driven mental health best practices;
            (4) encourages athletic directors to include mental health 
        resources for student athletes and best practices for suicide 
        prevention alongside mandatory trainings; and
            (5) encourages the President to issue a proclamation 
        calling on the people of the United States to observe 
        ``National Student Athlete Mental Health Week'' with 
        appropriate awareness and educational activities.
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