What is it?

The Bandana Project is a national mental health awareness and suicide prevention campaign. Here within the Department of Athletics, interested individuals undergo a one-hour mental health training session focused on the recognition and referral of various mental disorders. Giving our student-athletes and staff an understanding of how to approach and navigate the sometimes difficult conversations surrounding mental health. Additionally, all members are taught about the campus, local and national mental health resources. Once trained, members are given a lime-green bandana to tie on their backpack, signifying that they are in possession and aware of campus-specific and national resources. This creates easy access to resources, destigmatizes asking for and getting help, and serves a beacon for solidarity.

How to Join

All members of the DIA are welcome to join. Check our Twitter and Instagram social media pages for more information on upcoming training sessions. For more information, you can also reach out to antaylor@illinois.edu.