Collaboration with National Council for Mental Wellbeing aims to help participants recognize, respond to and reduce stigma around mental health challenges
WASHINGTON, DC (Sept. 3, 2026) – To better support the mental well-being of student-athletes, NCAA Division II is working with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to offer fully funded Mental Health First Aid for Higher Education training to members across the division.
Division II schools are eligible to receive one fully funded training as part of the program, which launched in August.
“In our efforts to assist Division II institutions with supporting their student-athletes’ mental health, we are excited to engage the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to provide this critical training,” said Terri Steeb Gronau, vice president of Division II governance and member services. “Our goal is to equip those who interact with student-athletes closely with the tools to recognize and respond to mental health challenges, build resilience and reduce stigma.”
En 2022 NCAA Coach Well-Being Study underscored the need for expanded mental health support in college athletics. More than 80% of coaches reported spending increased time addressing mental health concerns with their student-athletes compared with pre-pandemic levels, and many identified mental health as the top issue facing their teams. These findings reinforced the importance of MHFA training as a timely and valuable resource for Division II staff members.
“Student-athletes are returning for the fall semester, and it’s vital that Mental Health First Aid is part of their campus well-being playbook,” said Tramaine EL-Amin, vice president for Mental Health First Aid, a program presented by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. “Not only do young adults cope with anxiety and depression, they also face stigma associated with mental health challenges. That makes them less likely to seek the treatment and care they need, so we must provide them with all the resources necessary to thrive. We are honored to be part of the team supporting student-athletes throughout Division II.”
MHFA for Higher Education is an evidence-based, interactive program that teaches individuals how to:
- Recognize signs and symptoms of common mental health and substance use challenges among student-athletes.
- Use the five-step MHFA Action Plan: approach and assess, listen nonjudgmentally, give reassurance and information, encourage professional help, and encourage self-help and support strategies.
- Interact with someone in crisis.
- Connect student-athletes with the help they need.
- Practice self-care to support themselves and others.
The training also supports institutional implementation of the NCAA Mental Health Best Practices.
Curtis Janz, director of athletics at Arkansas-Fort Smith, participated in the MHFA program before this Division II engagement. He said the training has made a noticeable impact on his campus, especially within athletics.
“Over the past few years, it has become more evident that many student-athletes are engaged in a mental health battle. Division II making Mental Health First Aid training available for all members provides coaches, athletic trainers and athletics administrators tools to effectively serve our student-athletes. We did the training here at the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith, and it was transformational for our department.”
Through this program, up to 30 individuals at each active Division II school are eligible to participate in a 7½-hour virtual or in-person training with expert MHFA instructors on their campus. Upon completion, participants will be certified in MHFA for Higher Education for three years.
For more information or to schedule a training session, click here.
About the National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Founded in 1969, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is a membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of over 3,200 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 15 million children, adults and families they serve. We advocate for policies to ensure access to high-quality services. We build the capacity of mental health and substance use treatment organizations. And we promote greater understanding of mental wellbeing as a core component of comprehensive health and health care. Through our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program, we have trained over 5 million people in the U.S. to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.
Media Contact
Sophia Majlessi
Media@TheNationalCouncil.org
202-621-1631
