CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Sports Medicine department is joining the national Green Bandana Project, a national initiative to promote a supportive environment for student-athletes experiencing mental health stressors, as well as empowering fellow student-athletes to advocate for their wellbeing.

"We are always looking for new and innovative ways to bring awareness to mental health challenges our young people face," Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Randy Ballard said. "One of our greatest concerns is the wellbeing of our student-athletes and certainly during this time we are seeing many additional stressors that can exacerbate already existing mental health challenges and even create new ones."

For the Illinois Athletics Department, the program offers student-athletes training sessions with Carle counselor Jim Maurer. The hour-long training focuses on recognizing and learning how to respond when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis. This peer to peer response can help to encourage those in need to get help. The green bandanas symbolize the color of mental health awareness.

"It is great to have the Green Bandana Project here on campus at the U of I," Maurer said. "So many times, the student-athletes talk to each other as friends and teammates when they are struggling and to have trained, caring, and supportive fellow student-athletes who are identified to help is very exciting.  We have quality individuals who have stepped up to be a part of the program, go through the training, and be an active support for their fellow student-athletes.  The training focuses on education about mental health issues, how to be a supportive listener, ways they can help someone who may be struggling, and how to identify and refer a fellow student-athlete in need of mental health services.  I see the Green Bandana Project as one that could grow and be a huge help in serving the mental health needs of our student-athletes." 

If an individual displays their green bandana – on a backpack, sports bag or clothing accessory – it signifies to others their unspoken support and a sign of a stigma-free environment.

"So far we have trained eight student-athletes from softball, women's basketball and cross country and have received great feedback," Assistant Athletic Trainer Autumn Taylor said. "Our next steps are to increase those numbers to include more student-athletes, coaches and staff. The training is universal and can make a world of difference in the lives of those who struggle with mental health, whether it is chronic or short term."