The Role of Athletic Trainers in the Mental Health Care of Student-Athletes

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of athletic trainers (ATs) in the mental health care of NCAA Division I student-athletes. Previous research has explored the current experiences of both student-athletes and ATs, along with the current models of care that are prevalent in Division I athletic training rooms. Research described the student-athlete population as unique. According to Beauchemin (2014) the life of a student-athlete “presents challenges and stressors related to athletic status that can lead to a compromised well-being.” This compromised well-being could potentially lead to mental health diagnoses among the student-athlete population. Along with student-athletes, the AT population is also unique in how they live and work on a day-to-day basis. Mazerolle (2016) described the normal day of a collegiate AT as one that begins early in the morning, continuing through the final athletic event of the day. This time ATs around their team’s facilities and their student-athletes leads to a unique relationship between ATs and student-athletes. This relationship and the mental health of student-athletes is where the purpose of this study lies—to discover what that relationship looks like between a collegiate AT and a Division I student-athlete and where the AT lies in the potential mental health care of said student-athlete. Eight participants from various Southeastern Conference (SEC) schools spoke with the researcher about their experiences regarding the topic. One semi-structured interview was conducted with each participant. The semi-structured interview method was chosen as a way to give the interview an initial direction, while allowing for a more conversational interview environment. The quote transcripts were then analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) method of thematic analysis. After analyzing the data, four main themes presented themselves: first line of defense, building relationships, holistic care team, and scope of practice. Examining the experience of collegiate ATs and their role in the mental health care of student-athletes can allow collegiate athletic department administrators to better evaluate the resources they currently have for student-athlete mental well-being, along with learning what further resources may be needed to strengthen the level of care provided to the athletes.