Comments Document

Letter of Support from a practicing Psychiatrist in Virginia, and former Virginia collegiate athlete.

Virginia House Bill 2420’s proposed change would be one which aligns with the NCAA’s 2024 Mental Health Best Practice Guidelines. The unique daily pressures of student athletes, as well as other factors which remain to be fully understood, has culminated in a significant increase in suicide rates among collegiate athletes over the past ten years. When compared to the decade prior, the incidence of completed suicide among NCAA athletes has doubled, accounting for approximately 15% of deaths within this demographic, and second only to accidental injuries. I was a four-year collegiate football player at Christopher Newport University and I’m currently a practicing Psychiatrist in Southwest Virginia, working with children, adolescents and young adults, to include student-athletes. I feel personally compelled to address the importance of the proposed change contained in Virginia House Bill 2420. An update such as this would potentially reduce collegiate athlete suicide rates throughout the state, as one of the largest known barriers to mental health care in athletes is the lack of convenient access. Care through Access. Access through Support. Support through Initiative. Convenience to access is key, as treatment-avoidance is often exacerbated by the notion that athletes are “letting the team down” by prioritizing self-care. Because those most likely to influence an athlete's decision to pursue such care avenues are the team’s coaching staff, It is vital that an athletic team’s organization is openly supportive of this effort. When staff takes initiative by regularly triaging mental health care needs amongst its team members, athletes see tangible proof of that support. A coach’s early recognition of mental health symptoms, and knowledge of how to navigate the referral process to appropriate treatment modalities is the backbone of educational training programs such as Mental Health First Aid. As physicians, we humbly embrace the concept of being “lifelong learners”. I advocate for a change which ensures The Commonwealth’s collegiate coaching staff does the same; maintain efforts to update education and training in order to prevent the unnecessary loss of their athlete’s lives to suicide. Sincerely, Austin J. Bopp, D.O. Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Student athletes are at higher risk of experiencing a mental health crisis than many other students, and coaches should have training in mental health first aid, just as they are required to have training in regular first aid. Coaches spend more time with student athletes than any do any other adults, and are in a position to observe behavior or warning signs of mental distress that other institutional staff are not. It is important they have the knowledge and tools necessary to provide help or referral to resources as applicable. It can save lives.

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