Mental Health University

Episode Summary: In this episode of Mental Health University, Dr. Joel and CJ Simmons discuss various themes surrounding mental health, leadership, and team dynamics in sports. They emphasize the importance of support systems, the role of captains, and the impact of leadership styles on team morale. The hosts explore how mistakes are part of the game and the necessity of fostering a positive team...

Episode Summary: In this conversation, Joel and CJ discuss the importance of emotional regulation in sports, college, and life and its impact on performance. They explore cognitive strategies for managing emotions, the role of preparation, and how athletes can channel their emotions for peak performance. The discussion emphasizes the need for self-discovery and the development of emotional regulat...

In this episode of Mental Health University, Dr. Joel Ingersoll and co-host CJ Simmons discuss the pressures faced by student athletes and college students as they navigate the beginning of the academic year and sports season. They emphasize the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, staying disciplined, and learning from setbacks. The conversation highlights strategies for proactive engage...

In this episode of Mental Health University, host Joel welcomes new intern CJ Simmons as they discuss the transition from high school to college, the importance of multi-sport participation, and the dynamics of accountability in sports. They explore the challenges student-athletes face, including academic setbacks and the impact of test scores on mindset. CJ shares his personal experiences with AD...

What does it take to sustain performance (athletic, academic, leadership)? Scan the internet for words of wisdom and you'll come across dozens of suggestions. In this episode (and her last as an intern for now), co-host Sarah Policano details her top 5 mindset skills - keys for development as an athlete and student at Bucknell University. We detail the 5 skills and highlight those that serve a...

Body image is a top concern among mental health professionals working with adolescents and young adults. We dig into the range of challenges among students and student athletes susceptible to distorted body image, the domino effect with other eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia), psychological health and performance. Other related topics include the perception of "healthy," pressure of s...

Are you coachable? Talented high school and college athletes are in full swing practice mode as the fall semester and sports season quickly approaches. For any student, student-athlete, performer, or professional who aspires toward excellent performance in whatever their chosen endeavor a massive question looms: "Are you coachable?" Seems like the question should have an obvious answer -...

While athletes and students strive for excellence, many experience psychological distress when pressure to perform intensifies. This occurs too often in athletes and students, especially when they land in a narrow view of defining "success." We dig into the common metrics students and athletes use to define success and the range of mental health effects of too much pressure, the impact o...

Athletes encounter a host of psychological hurdles when recovering from injury. In this episode we dig into the challenges of coping mentally during recovery, decisions to re-commit to playing, awareness cues for realistic expectations, trusting our body to perform again, and the risks when athletes choose/are told they can no longer play. I have worked with dozens of athletes in a range of these...

In this episode we dig into the pros and cons of social media on student and student-athlete development. Key areas like self-concept, self-confidence, body image, professional readiness, and relationship building, and intimacy are highlighted. Targeted action steps for students to develop “healthy” engagement with social media apps at a critical time of development! Episode highlights: - Social m...

Response to failure (perceived or real) is a critical skill for developing athletes & students. A lack of this skill has significant implications on self-confidence, mental health challenges (depression, anxiety, substance use), and general enjoyment of the activity. We dive into the normalcy of failure and highlight how it is a necessary experience to fuel personal strength and ongoing success. S...

Life is an ongoing sparring match with stress. The mental and physical implications of ignoring stress are massive. In this episode we dig into performance and chronic stress among student athletes and college students, highlighting the health (mental and physical) risks if ignored. We also explain the nature of stress, what cues to look for, and action steps listeners can apply immediately to bet...

The jump from high school to college for a student-athlete carries many new challenges. Athletic, academic, and psychological hurdles loom large - even for the most gifted, successful high school athletes. In this episode we dive into those challenges, highlight the importance of prioritizing mental health, and the vast resources for student-athletes to connect with on campus. Intern & co-host Sar...

College relationships have huge mental health implications. Toxic relationships can implode a college semester, including academic performance, mental health, and key areas of personal development. In this episode we dive into signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships, including those long distance relationship challenges that affect a college experience. 2:00 : College relationships 5:30 : Lon...

Suicide and self-harm are among the most uncomfortable discussion topics- yet incredibly necessary as critical mental health topics. Statistics are alarming - particularly among college students where on average 1,100 college students commit suicide each year. In this episode we discuss the often avoided conversations around suicide and self-harm including the implications for students concerned a...

This episode highlights 5 critical “To-dos” this fall to maximize mental health self-care. The trend, especially among students, is when stress increases, self-care actions decrease in frequency leading to risk of increases in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Too often students lean on coping strategies - more booze, more weed, more meds - to cope with the emotional demands. We introduce...

August hits and the college packing starts! How many trips have you made to Target, Bed-Bath & Beyond, let alone opened countless Amazon boxes? In the upcoming weeks car trunks will be packed with college “necessities.” In this episode we dial in on 5 words to pack in addition to all the physical stuff. These are simple, useful words to maintain a healthy, success oriented mindset during the semes...

Rather forget a bad spring semester? Most of us have been there and our response to a subpar semester is critical. In this episode we highlight common areas of challenge and what holds college students back from creating change to their approach to success. We also walk through easy do-it-now tips to get students on the path to an awesome fall semester. 1:30: Introduction 2:30: Challenging your mi...

Many challenges await first year college student athletes. In this episode we discuss college athletes adjusting to new schedules, team dynamics, and more athletic talent and other challenges to the psychological adjustment to college sports. While mental health awareness is increasing there continues to be stigma around athletes seeking mental health services. Unfortunately there are coaches who...

Internships for college students come in all forms. Some great, some suck, and many were unavailable. Believe it, there are huge takeaways from bad internships. We talk through the range of internship experiences and give key tips on how to make the best out of the worst internship experiences and how to create your own AMAZING internship experience. Really, you can! Tune in and let’s go!! 0:56 :...

In this episode we tackle key summer habits for college students to develop for success in the Fall 2022 semester. Most college kids make promises to initiate change when they get back to school. Key insights on why this is counterproductive are highlighted as well as simple strategies to get started now! Have feedback, topics or questions, send to mentalhealthuniversitypodcast@gmail.com 1:55 : Se...

In this episode we dive into one of the more challenging experiences for college students when they are confronted by rejection. Whether from a social group, internship, or job opportunities the psychological impact is stressful and it’s critical that students learn to pivot from rejection and thrive. Episode Notes 1:04 : Introduction 2:34 : Acceptance and rejection within Greek life 5:15 : Feedba...

Social anxiety is one of the most common challenges among college students. An experience that shows up in many places and has great impact on a college experience. In this episode we dial in on the range of social anxiety experiences college students encounter, methods to learn to cope, and campus resources to check out. Email us your questions! mentalhealthuniversitypodcast@gmail.com 1:06: Intro...

Student-athletes have unique challenges in college and are often in the unfamiliar place of making stressful decisions. In this episode we highlight the range of challenges for student-athletes, from those in high school deciding whether to continue playing to those who have suffered career ending injuries. Email us your questions at: mentalhealthuniversitypodcast@gmail.com  1:08 : Introduction 3:...

Recovering from midterms is a tough challenge. Bad performance too often leads to self-doubt, avoidance, and lost opportunities to develop effective response skills. In this episode we tackle the challenges of recovery from midterm disasters and how to set up for a strong semester finish. 1:10 Intro 1:50: Recovery from midterm performance 2:55: Self-doubt 4:15 : Why meet with professors 5:01 : Fee...