POINT CLEAR, Ala. – POINT CLEAR, Ala. – The Sun Belt hosted a Mental Health Summit Thursday morning to spread better understanding of issues related to mental health, best practices, recommendations, and educational efforts that support and promote the health and safety of college athletes.
 
Sports Psychologist Dr. Shawn Zeplin, Psy.D. led the program with the help of additional panel speakers - former Troy volleyball student-athlete Madeleine Bouillion, Georgia State Director of Athletics Charlie Cobb, and Coastal Carolina football coach Joe Moglia.
 
“This is a significant day for the Sun Belt Conference,” said Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson.  “The mental health of our student-athletes and coaches cannot be ignored - and it needs to be brought to the forefront on all of our campuses.  Programs need to be developed to identify the warning signs of mental illness and professional help provided to those who are experiencing mental health disorders.”
 
Among the topics discussed were the mental pressure to perform, trying to perform through injury, life after being a student-athlete, signs of mental health issues, relationship issues, body image issues, test taking and study problems, and other items related more specifically to sports psychology.
 
The Mental Health Summit was part of the Sun Belt’s Spring Meeting which is taking place in Point Clear, Ala. this week.  The conference meeting includes the athletic directors, senior woman administrators, football coaches, men’s and women’s basketball coaches, and student-athletes from each Sun Belt institution.