The NCAA is committed to supporting member schools in their effort to support the mental well-being of student-athletes. In short, mental health is a part of, not apart from, student-athlete health and is an integral part of the collegiate experience.
Recognizing mental health as an important dimension of overall health, the NCAA’s commitment to student-athlete mental health and well-being is codified in the NCAA Constitution, which states that athletics programs shall be conducted in a manner designed to protect, support and enhance the mental and physical health of student-athletes
Guidance and resources are available to empower schools in their responsibility to provide for the mental health of student-athletes. The NCAA promotes a culture of care, encourages help-seeking and supports the creation of healthy environments where mental wellness is prioritized and every student-athlete has access to the care they need to thrive.
Educational Tools & Resources
Mental Health Best Practices Resources
The NCAA Mental Health Best Practices provide evidence- and consensus-based recommendations to member schools for supporting and promoting student-athlete mental health. Schools are legislatively required to provide mental health services and resources to student-athletes, consistent with the Mental Health Best Practices.
The four Mental Health Best Practices include:
- Creating Healthy Environments: Encourage the development of inclusive, supportive settings that promote mental wellness across individual, team, and institutional levels.
- Identification & Screening: Implement regular mental health screenings using validated tools to detect student-athletes who may benefit from additional support.
- Action Plans: Establish clear, rehearsed protocols for referring student-athletes to qualified mental health providers, addressing both routine and emergency situations.
- Licensed Providers: Ensure that mental health services are delivered by licensed professionals operating within their scope of practice.
Download the Mental Health Best Practices
Mental Health Fact Sheets
Educational Modules
Student-athletes, coaches, faculty athletics representatives and athletics administrators each play a vital role in fostering healthy environments that supports mental health and well-being. The NCAA offers interactive educational modules designed to promote mental wellness, build resiliency and encourage help-seeking behaviors. These resources aim to normalize conversations around mental health and empower individuals to support themselves and others on campus.
Research & Data
The NCAA supports ongoing research to better understand and improve the mental health and wellness of student-athletes. This includes national studies, comparison data, and expert-led summits that explore emerging trends, challenges, and solutions.
Key Research Initiatives:
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American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment: Using data from the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment IIc (ACHA- NCHA IIc), NCAA research has examined the self-reported mental health concerns of NCAA student-athletes in comparison with their nonathlete peers. In collaboration with the ACHA, the sample is limited to participants from NCAA-member institutions and then further restricted to full-time undergraduate students, ages 18-24. The most recent NCAA-member sample contained 106,374 nonathletes and 9,057 self-identified varsity athletes.
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NCAA Collegiate Wagering Study: The NCAA has had bylaws restricting sports wagering for many years because leaders in college athletics consistently and steadfastly believe that sports wagering not only threatens the integrity of the game but also is an entry point into other behaviors that may compromise student-athlete health and well-being. The NCAA Collegiate Wagering Study surveys college athletes about their attitudes toward and engagement in various gambling activities, including sports wagering.
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NCAA GOALS Study:Â The GOALS Survey is a quadrennial, NCAA study of the experiences and well-being of current college athletes. It provides the SSI and the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport, as well as NCAA committees, policymakers and member schools, with the most detailed information to date on a range of important issues. Those include the health and well-being, athletics, academics and social experience of college student-athletes.
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NCAA Environments Study: The NCAA Social Environments Study is designed to examine how student-athletes interact with various on-campus and community groups; the level of comfort and trust within the campus community; perceived ability to intervene when teammates and peers need help; and expectations/education provided by coaches and others in dealing with various issues that arise in a student-athlete’s social environment.Â
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NCAA Student-Athlete Health and Wellness Study:Â The NCAA Student-Athlete Health and Wellness Study is a national study of college student-athletes that examines various topics including student-athlete mental health concerns and peer support, sleep behaviors, attitudes toward weight and body image, nutrition, competition and injury history, and substance use experiences. Administered during the 2022-23 academic year, this comprehensive study subsumes many of the survey items from the NCAA Substance Use Study and incorporates a range of health and wellness items previously used in other NCAA studies (e.g., NCAA GOALS, Social Environments, Well-Being).
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NCAA Student-Athlete Substance Use Study:Â The NCAA Student-Athlete Substance Use Survey is a quadrennial survey that collects data on the substance use patterns of college athletes. It helps inform the SSI, the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport and NCAA policymakers with current and historical information concerning levels of student-athlete drug and alcohol use. The information includes matters such as why student-athletes do or do not use specific substances, when they started to use drugs and their attitudes regarding drug use and drug testing.
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NCAA Student-Athlete Well-Being Study: The NCAA Student-Athlete Well-Being Study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical and mental well-being of student-athletes during spring 2020, fall 2020 and fall 2021. NCAA Research collaborated with the NCAA Sport Science Institute and the NCAA’s Division I, II and III Student-Athlete Advisory Committees to design and distribute the surveys to student-athletes spanning three divisions, all sports and athletics conferences. The three surveys generated over 70,000 student-athlete responses.
Mental Health Summits:
The NCAA has hosted national Mental Health Summits that bring together student-athletes, medical experts, and campus leaders to identify key concerns and share strategies to improve mental health support. These summits have highlighted the importance of inclusive care, reducing stigma, and fostering help-seeking environments—especially for historically marginalized groups. Recommendations from these events inform ongoing research and NCAA programming.
Initiatives & Task Forces
To advance mental health efforts across college sports, the NCAA has launched initiatives and task forces that bring together experts in medicine, psychology, and higher education. These groups help shape national best practices, guide policy development, and support schools in implementing effective mental health frameworks.
- NCAA Mental Health Task Force (est. 2013) helped develop the Interassociation Best Practices.
- Ongoing collaboration with medical associations, academic advisors, and athletic professionals ensures continued progress in creating supportive athletics environments.
