U of R implements mental wellness consultant for its athletes
The University of Regina (U of R) has implemented a mental wellness consultant this year specifically for its athletes to address their mental health needs.
Lisa Robertson, director of sport community engagement and athlete development at the U of R, said physical strength is not the only thing that should be focused on when looking at a student athlete.
“We need to address the health of our student athlete’s minds, both from a sports-psych perspective in terms of proactive approach but also to support those that may be struggling,” she said.
Robertson was a part of the team that hired Lisa Hoffart, a registered psychologist and mental performance consultant, to take on the role as the University’s mental health and wellness coordinator for the 2022-23 school year.
“The University had been looking to incorporate something within their athletic department to assist athletes with their mental health and wellness. It was something I was very interested in and wanted to put my name forward when the opportunity came up,” Hoffart explained.
Hoffart is a former student athlete and felt her post-secondary experiences could help play a pivotal role in relating and understanding what they are going through.
She said when she was an athlete, mental performance wasn’t really available.
“I think to have it talked about normalizes it and helps to recognize that if we can deal with the person first, the athletic performance will follow,” she said.
Hoffart noted there are multiple ways she and the University have been working to help the athletes this season, including managing stress, coping, developing resilience, and working through depression and anxiety.
Peyton Enns, a forward for the women’s soccer team, said it’s great to have someone who can specifically deal with student athletes.
“I’m just glad we can have someone that we can directly go to instead of having to look elsewhere, it’s just right here at the university,” she said.
The University will evaluate and assess the need of Hoffart’s position on an annual basis. However, Robertson has already found it to be a huge success for the athletes.
“The response has been very positive. I have a student athlete leadership team and they have all given me feedback that’s both needed and appreciated,” she said.
“If you look at NSO [National Sport Organizations] and elite level Olympic sports, they absolutely have a holistic approach to their athletes. I was well aware that coming from my other roles that this was a piece I wanted to fill. It took a little longer than I had gone but now that it’s here, I don’t see it going anywhere,” she added.
Nigel Warden, a member of the Cougar men’s basketball team said he think it’s important for athletes to have someone to reach out to.
“I think that’s something that a lot of people do need. It’s definitely something that needs to be focused on a little but more within the student athlete group,” he said.
Max Dobie, who competes for the University’s swim team, said it’s nice to have someone that will listen.
“Five years ago, it was really hard especially as an athlete to say that you’re struggling because athletes were supposed to be the strong ones. Now it’s easier to just go and say, ‘I’m struggling right now, training really hard, school is stressing me out,’” he said.
Both Robertson and Hoffart noted they are not aware of this position at other institutions across the country but could see it becoming a key role that will be created for all student athletes in the future.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
BREAKING Hosting Vancouver's FIFA World Cup games could cost half a billion dollars
Hosting seven games in Vancouver during the 2026 FIFA World Cup could cost more than half a billion dollars, according to an updated estimate provided Tuesday.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Sword-wielding man attacks passersby in London, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring 4 others
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers in a northeast London suburb Tuesday, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four other people, British authorities said.
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
WATCH Arnold Schwarzenegger spotted filming in Elora, Ont.
The name of the project has not been officially released although it’s widely believed to be the Netflix series FUBAR.
Conservatives push motion calling for Carney to testify, say it's about 'accountability'
The federal Conservatives made good on their promise to push for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to testify before MPs, resulting in a heated political debate in Ottawa on Tuesday.
London Drugs stores remain closed, 'cybersecurity incident' may have breached personal data
London Drugs says it is working with third-party security experts as the company tries to reopen dozens of stores across Western Canada that were shuttered by a cybersecurity incident Sunday.