Athlete Medical Care
Overview
Vincennes University Sports Medicine is dedicated to providing comprehensive care to Trailblazer student-athletes, including injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, physicals, nutritional guidance, and psychological support.
Our team is committed to helping student-athletes perform at their best by delivering professional, ethical, and personalized care. With diverse expertise in sports medicine and orthopedics, our staff understands the demands of collegiate athletics. Our team physicians offer expert care and trusted support throughout each athlete’s VU journey.
Mental Health
The terms "mental health" and "mental illness" are often used interchangeably, but they are not synonymous. According to the World Health Organization, mental health is more than the absence of mental disorder or illness; mental health is a complete state of well-being in which an individual realizes his/her/their own abilities, copes with the normal stresses of life, attends school (works) productively, and contributes to his/her/their community.
Mental health challenges are often thought of as invisible injuries. If you tear your ACL participating in your sport, would you seek care and treatment? Why would you not do the same if you are stressed, depressed, anxious, overwhelmed or burned out?
It is okay not to be okay. Please reach out to your Sports Medicine staff if you are struggling. There is no game, match, meet, or tournament that is more important than you!
Data suggests that in any given year 26-34% of young adults (ages 18-25) experience a diagnosable mental health concern (SAMHSA, 2018, NIMH 2023). According to the American College of Sports Medicine (2021), only about 10% of student-athletes will reach out for help and support. In translating this data, of the nearly 150 student-athletes at Big Bend, roughly 39 to 51 of our athletes experience a diagnosable mental health concern, but only 15 to 17 will reach out for help and support. You are not alone.
When things get challenging, what do you do to cope? Play with a pet, plant something, take a hot bath, laugh, count the stars, make a new playlist, help a friend, paint your nails, decorate your room, watch people at a park or mall, sing, dance, go bowling, listen to nature, try a new food. It does not need to be fancy, cost money or require lots of time. The only requirement is that it can distract you or help you refocus.
For more information on mental health signs and symptoms and what we all can say and do when someone is struggling, check out the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' (NAIA) Mental Health Toolkit.