University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Participating in Mental Health Week
9/28/2022 3:03:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – Delaware Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation, along with the Center for Counseling and Student Development are participating in Mental Health Awareness Week. UD is co-hosting the inaugural Blue Hens Walk for Mental Health Awareness in partnership with the Wellness Neighborhood on the University of Delaware campus.
More than 150 student-athletes, coaches and staff will take part in the Blue Hens Walk for Mental Health Awareness scheduled for Friday, Sept. 30.
On Friday, September 30 at 3 p.m., participating students and staff will partake in a 1.5-mile walk from the Whitney Athletic Center (WAC) up College Avenue. They will join a group gathered at Warner Hall and will continue in a half loop around the UD Fountain on The Green before returning to Warner Hall. Following the walk, a series of speakers will share insight into mental health resources. Light refreshments and snacks will be served.
Speakers for the event include Dr. Cynthia Diefenbeck, Director of the Counseling Center; Evan Ciecko, men's swimming & diving student-athlete and chair of HenMinded; Zoey Valentino, softball student-athlete; and Dr. Christine Jehu, Sport Psychologist.
"Athletes are humans first," said Jehu. "They experience stressors, struggles, and challenges like all other college students. There can be a stigma, and sometimes an expectation, within athletics that athletes are tough, shouldn't have difficulties and can muscle through challenging situations. Yes, athletes are tough and can overcome challenges, but that does not mean that counseling and mental health services aren't needed. I believe we all can benefit from counseling throughout our lives and we don't have to have a diagnosis to seek those services. Ensuring we meet the mental health and wellness needs will contribute to optimal sports performance."
Saturday's football game against Towson coincides with the start of College Football Mental Health Week (Oct. 1-8) and the Blue Hens are partnering with Hiliniski's Hope Foundation, an organization dedicated to spreading awareness and providing resources about mental health, particularly with student-athletes.
Coaches and players nationwide have come together to eliminate the stigma and increase mental health resources at their universities and colleges. This week they'll participate in breaking down stigma, offering quality resources, and letting student-athletes know that they care.
Delaware is one of 119 college football programs to have committed to at least one of the following during the week: showcasing a lime green ribbon on all player helmets with a "3" in the middle to honor Tyler Hilinski and remember those lost and those suffering in silence; encouraging students, parents, alumni, and fans to participate in showing solidarity, eliminating stigmas around mental health by holding three fingers in the sky during the first play of the third quarter; playing a Hilinski's Hope PSA at the CMHW games; participating in Hilinski's Hope's: Online Mental Health Course to help reduce the stigma of seeking help for mental health concerns, and provides a new way of thinking about mental health; participating in a social media campaign; participating in an internal assessment to evaluate how universities are following best practices in terms of mental health programs and include talks and trainings on campus for players, coaches, and staff.
Hilinski's Hope Foundation (H3H), founded by Mark and Kym Hilinski to honor the legacy of their son Tyler, today announced that 115+ schools around the country will be participating in the third annual College Football Mental Health Week. The week will focus on a series of mental health initiatives, beginning October 1, which will honor Tyler, those lost, and those suffering, and will culminate on October 8.
To learn more and/or get involved with Hilinski's Hope Foundation please visit https://www.hilinskishope.org/cfb-mental-health-week.
Hilinskis Hope Foundation I Tyler's Story I Center for Counseling & Student Development
More than 150 student-athletes, coaches and staff will take part in the Blue Hens Walk for Mental Health Awareness scheduled for Friday, Sept. 30.
On Friday, September 30 at 3 p.m., participating students and staff will partake in a 1.5-mile walk from the Whitney Athletic Center (WAC) up College Avenue. They will join a group gathered at Warner Hall and will continue in a half loop around the UD Fountain on The Green before returning to Warner Hall. Following the walk, a series of speakers will share insight into mental health resources. Light refreshments and snacks will be served.
Speakers for the event include Dr. Cynthia Diefenbeck, Director of the Counseling Center; Evan Ciecko, men's swimming & diving student-athlete and chair of HenMinded; Zoey Valentino, softball student-athlete; and Dr. Christine Jehu, Sport Psychologist.
"Athletes are humans first," said Jehu. "They experience stressors, struggles, and challenges like all other college students. There can be a stigma, and sometimes an expectation, within athletics that athletes are tough, shouldn't have difficulties and can muscle through challenging situations. Yes, athletes are tough and can overcome challenges, but that does not mean that counseling and mental health services aren't needed. I believe we all can benefit from counseling throughout our lives and we don't have to have a diagnosis to seek those services. Ensuring we meet the mental health and wellness needs will contribute to optimal sports performance."
Saturday's football game against Towson coincides with the start of College Football Mental Health Week (Oct. 1-8) and the Blue Hens are partnering with Hiliniski's Hope Foundation, an organization dedicated to spreading awareness and providing resources about mental health, particularly with student-athletes.
Coaches and players nationwide have come together to eliminate the stigma and increase mental health resources at their universities and colleges. This week they'll participate in breaking down stigma, offering quality resources, and letting student-athletes know that they care.
Delaware is one of 119 college football programs to have committed to at least one of the following during the week: showcasing a lime green ribbon on all player helmets with a "3" in the middle to honor Tyler Hilinski and remember those lost and those suffering in silence; encouraging students, parents, alumni, and fans to participate in showing solidarity, eliminating stigmas around mental health by holding three fingers in the sky during the first play of the third quarter; playing a Hilinski's Hope PSA at the CMHW games; participating in Hilinski's Hope's: Online Mental Health Course to help reduce the stigma of seeking help for mental health concerns, and provides a new way of thinking about mental health; participating in a social media campaign; participating in an internal assessment to evaluate how universities are following best practices in terms of mental health programs and include talks and trainings on campus for players, coaches, and staff.
Hilinski's Hope Foundation (H3H), founded by Mark and Kym Hilinski to honor the legacy of their son Tyler, today announced that 115+ schools around the country will be participating in the third annual College Football Mental Health Week. The week will focus on a series of mental health initiatives, beginning October 1, which will honor Tyler, those lost, and those suffering, and will culminate on October 8.
To learn more and/or get involved with Hilinski's Hope Foundation please visit https://www.hilinskishope.org/cfb-mental-health-week.
Hilinskis Hope Foundation I Tyler's Story I Center for Counseling & Student Development
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