ST. PAUL, Minn. - Psychlytics, in collaboration with Concordia University, St. Paul, is proud to announce the successful results of a groundbreaking pilot program aimed at addressing mental health issues among athletes. This initiative, launched in academic year 2023-2024, demonstrated significant positive impacts on the mental well-being and overall performance of participating athletes.

Through education, support, collaboration and advocacy, Psychlytics strives to improve the quality of life for athletes affected by a variety of mental illnesses. Recognizing that athletes face unique mental health challenges due to severe training demands, intense competitions, and a hectic lifestyle, this program was designed to offer tailored support and resources.

Program Highlights:

• Equitable Access and Compliance: Integrating the Psychlytics platform ensures equitable access to resources and aligns with NCAA guidelines, fostering a culture of holistic wellness and resilience.
• Advocacy and Awareness: The program is an ongoing campaign to raise awareness about mental health issues in the athletic community, aiming to reduce stigma and encourage open conversations while helping to identify challenges before they become debilitating.

"Athletes' mental health is crucial for their performance and development. However, they routinely face additional mental health risk factors compared to the non-athletic population," said Lori Seviola, Psychlytics Founder. "Mental health symptoms and disorders not only increase the risk of physical injuries but also delay rehabilitation, highlighting the inextricable link between mental and physical health," added Seviola.

Program Outcomes:

• Strong Engagement: Participation rates ranged from 44% to 82%, reflecting high involvement from student-athletes.
• Ongoing Support Identified: 41% of participants required additional assessments, underscoring the need for continuous mental health support.
• Urgent Care Delivered: 3.4% of student-athletes with immediate mental health needs received prompt interventions, ensuring they could continue their education and sports without disruption.
• Trust Established: 100% of participants felt that the Psychlytics platform demonstrated the university's commitment to their mental well-being.
• Positive Feedback: Coaches and support staff noted better communication, teamwork, and a more supportive environment for athletes.

"We are thrilled with the results of this pilot program," said Athletic Director, Regan McAthie. "Our goal is to create an environment where mental illness does not hinder an athlete's potential to make rational decisions both in and outside of competition. This program has proven that with the right support, athletes can thrive both mentally and physically."

"In addition, the ability to integrate and build a response mechanism utilizing our pre-existing campus mental health professionals is a win both from a campus efficiency and buy-in standpoint as well as financially."

Moving forward, Psychlytics and Concordia University St. Paul are building a plan to expand this program, making it accessible to more athletes and continuing to promote the importance of mental health in sports.

For more information about the program and future initiatives, please contact:

Lori Seviola
Founder, Psychlytics
Lori@psychlytics.com
612.483.4064
  About Psychlytics: Psychlytics is dedicated to improving the quality of life for athletes affected by mental illnesses through education, support, collaboration and advocacy. Our mission is to ensure that mental health is prioritized alongside physical health in the athletic community.

About Concordia University, St. Paul: Concordia University, St. Paul is committed to providing holistic education and support to its students, including student-athletes, to ensure their success both academically and personally.