NEW HAVEN, Conn. - On Monday, October 26, Yale University's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) announced the YUmatter initiative. The mission of YUmatter is to promote student-athlete mental wellness while creating an atmosphere of acceptance and understanding of mental health and to ensure every student-athlete knows Y U matter.
The initiative focuses on three pillars:
1.) Providing education about mental health to student-athletes and Yale athletics constituents.
2.) Advocating for mental health resources for student-athletes.
3.) Creating awareness about mental health.
"The YUmatter campaign is a huge step forward for mental health awareness among student-athletes," said Hannah Johns, Yale SAAC President and junior women's rower, "Everyone experiences struggles with mental health, whether than be in or out of sport. YUmatter lets students know that they are not alone and there are places to go if they are struggling. This campaign also communicates to students that they are supported by the athletics community, no matter what they may be going through. I am so excited to see how YUmatter grows in the future, and I hope students see this campaign as an opportunity to discuss mental health, learn about mental health and seek help if they need it."
Earlier in the Fall term, Yale University's Good Life Center in conjunction with the SAAC YUmatter initiative partnered to offer Wellness Workshops to student-athletes for the Fall 2020 semester. SAAC is excited to announce an extension of its collaboration with the Good Life Center through the end of the Fall semester.
Beginning the week of November 1st, student-athletes may request a one on one wellness conversation with Good Life Center Woodbridge Fellow, Alexa Vaghenas. Consultations will offer student-athletes the opportunity to discuss their wellness and develop individualized strategies to cope with the challenges they are facing.
Signups will be completed via a Google Form to the athletic department.
"Student-athlete mental wellness has been an issue that isn't talked about for far too long, and I am so excited and hopeful about where YUmatter will take the conversation," said Helena Ware, Yale SAAC Wellness Subcommittee Chair and junior women's sailor, Student-athletes at Yale are often under immense pressure, and YUmatter will be there to support them, connect them to resources, and push larger-scale athletics culture change so that we can lower the stigma of talking about mental health within Yale Athletics."
Additional Wellness Resources
