FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Co-Founded by Pair of Saint Anselm Lacrosse Players.
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Representatives from several Saint Anselm sports programs have come together to form the Head Game Project, a student-run organization intent on establishing a culture of openness and support for student-athletes struggling with mental health issues.
Co-founded by Ally Irish (women's lacrosse) and CJ Hart (men's lacrosse), the initiative intends to support Saint Anselm student-athletes and help them to understand the importance of their psychological well-being.
"We have a team representative from each sport that will facilitate and aid with the progression of this program," said Hart, a senior from Reading, Mass. and a four-year student-athlete. "These representatives will ease all of their teammates into an open culture surrounding the topic of mental health."
Ultimately, the Head Game Project exists to destigmatize the discussions surrounding mental health as it relates to on-field and off-field performance. In the coming weeks, the tandem of Hart and Irish looks to partner with more of the Hawks varsity sports teams to build a unified effort.
The program's main goal is to "establish comfortability, safety, and fluidity" regarding each athlete's mental health on sports teams. The Head Game Project also looks to offer accessible tools to better individual's mental health in their day-to-day lives.
"My hope for the Head Game Project is for it to become a platform that provides self-wellness tools and resources that foster comfortable conversations about mental health," said Irish, a native of Scituate, Mass. who enters her fourth year on the Hilltop. "I have seen the benefit of peer-to-peer support in improving my own mental health and want all student-athletes on campus to have access to similar outlets and resources."
Hart and Irish have presented their plans for the project to staff members in the Department of Athletics, including representatives from the administration, coaches, and sports medicine.
"I am thrilled that Ally and CJ have created a peer-to-peer advocacy group and will continue to support them as we move forward," said Michael Sirois, head athletic trainer for the Hawks. "We are fortunate here at Saint Anselm to have many resources available, including on-and-off site counselors, sport psychology and sport nutrition. Being able to support our student-athletes, on-and-off the field, with their mental health is of tremendous importance."
Initial feedback from student-athletes to Hart has demonstrated that the Head Game Project can help to fill a vital need in the student-athlete experience. Initial plans call for the development of a mental health section of the Saint Anselm Athletics website that will grow in the coming weeks, months and years.
"I personally wanted to be involved and start this project to be able to grant students mental freedom," said Hart, "and to give everyone the chance at a life that they deserve. Student-athletes should no longer need to live in the dark or in fear of their own minds."
For more information about the Head Game Project, visit the group's Instagram page.
Head Game Project, an initiative created by current @STAHawks student-athletes, supports student-athletes and creates a culture of openness for those struggling with mental health illnesses: https://t.co/kcxRVtoktC. pic.twitter.com/p9NvacPdK8
— NCAA Division II (@NCAADII) November 4, 2020
-Story provided by Saint Anselm athletic communications-
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