National Center for Performance Health Comments on Recent Mental Health Services Legislation Passed by NCAA Athletic Conferences

TAMPA, Fla., April 25, 2019 (Newswire.com) - ​​​The five largest university athletic conferences with autonomy (Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern) approved proposal 2018-118 in January of 2019. The legislation requires all schools to make mental health services and resources available through the athletics department or the school’s health services department. Furthermore, schools must distribute mental health educational materials and resources to student-athletes, including a guide to the mental health services and resources available at the school and information about how to access them.

This legislation essentially “mandates” mental health care for the high-performing student-athletes in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC conferences through an internal legislative process. The approval will address full athlete development, including what happens when a student finishes a sport, graduates and enters the workforce.

The consensus from industry leaders is that this will open the door to make mental health care available to athletes in Division 1, and Division 2 and Division 3 schools that are not part of the initial conferences.

The approval of proposal 2018-118 validates the mission of the National Center of Performance Health, which is uniquely focused on combining mental health, sports psychology and stress management to help individuals achieve exponential results. NCPH has benefited from the recent attention on mental health for student-athletes and has received significant attention for a panel discussion it hosted, featuring Super Bowl champion, Notre Dame All-American and first-round National Football League draft pick Aaron Taylor. NCPH has also been highlighted by multiple publications for the performance health programs it implemented at Limestone College.

“I am very excited that the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC conferences decided to take a leadership position on mental health,” said Rahul Mehra M.D., CEO and Chief Physician Executive of the National Center for Performance Health. “The life of a student-athlete is very stressful, and the pressures that are associated can be overwhelming. These services can help them improve their current performance and become better individuals once they graduate and transition into the workforce.”

About the National Center for Performance Health 
The National Center for Performance Health (NCPH) is a unique organization designed with one goal in mind – to help individuals become the best they can be. NCPH is headquartered in Tampa, Florida and led by Rahul Mehra, M.D. Services are delivered through a professional network of over 10,000 providers, physicians and psychologists throughout the world. The network is highly qualified and all hold advanced degrees in behavioral health with over two years of clinical experience.  

Source: National Center for Performance Health