S2:E7: Athlete Mental Health w/ Sport Psych Dr. Jeni Shannon

Mind Your Fitness

Dr. Jeni Shannon serves as the Director of the Carolina Athletics Mental Health and Performance Psychology Program (AMP). She is a Counseling and Sport Psychologist within the UNC Department of Sports Medicine, providing performance enhancement and psychological services to UNC student-athletes. She is a licensed psychologist, a Certified Consultant with AASP and a member of the USOC Sport Psychology Registry. She also serves on the advisory board for the Collegiate Clinical/Counseling Sport Psychology Association.

In this episode, Shira Evans is joined by guest Dr. Jeni Shannon. Together, they discusses athlete mental health, the impact of societal norms on body image, the importance of proper nutrition, and the misconceptions around 'invincible' athletes. They talk about common mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, and disordered eating, while highlighting the protective factors in sports culture like community and purpose. The episode aims to redefine fitness by fostering a healthy relationship with food and body, advocating for early mental health intervention, and providing practical resources for athletes and professionals.

Recommended Mental Health Resources:

Question, Persuade, Refer: https://qprinstitute.com/

Mental Health First Aid: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/

NCAA Sports Science Institute: https://www.ncaa.org/sports/sport-science-institute

Clinical Counseling Sports Psychology Association: https://ccsportpsy.org/

Morgan's Message: https://www.morgansmessage.org/

The Hidden Opponent: https://www.thehiddenopponent.org/

Athletes Connected: https://athletesconnected.umich.edu/