What Would You Do?

Student-athletes face challenges that can affect mental health,
such as:

  • Academic demands
  • Sport performance pressure
  • High expectations
  • Relationship issues
  • Injury and illness

    • Talking to a teammate or friend about mental health is important but can also be awkward and challenging.


The acronym “REFER” is a guide for the mental health referral process.

  • Recognize - what’s going on in this situation
  • Extendknowledge - learn more
  • Facilitate a conversation - start talking
  • Evaluate the experience - how did things go?
  • Revise and revisit - continue the conversation with follow up as needed



R-ecognize - What’s going on

Recognize - What’s going on

Sean has been having a tough time. Walter has noticed that he is not his usual self.

Play the video to see what happens.

Start

Extend knowledge

Sean is still not doing well.
After doing some research...
Walter plans to talk to Sean
about a mental health referral.

E-xtend knowledge
F-acilitate a conversation

Facilitate a conversation

After doing some research and practicing what to say, Walter has decided to have a private
conversation with Sean.

Evaluate

Even with proper preparation, Walter didn’t say what he had planned to say. By evaluating what happened, Walter can learn from the experience and revise and revisit the topic at a later time.

E-valuate
R-evise and revisit

Revise and revisit

Continue the conversation with follow up as needed. Walter has decides to talk to Sean privately
one more time.