The mental health challenges faced by student-athletes at California Baptist University are complex, but the university has developed a multi-faceted approach to providing support. With the Student-Athlete Mental Health Committee and resources like the Counseling Center, CBU ensures that student-athletes can access the care they need while balancing academics, athletics, and personal well-being.
Taylor Higgins, director of student mental health, emphasized that while academics and athletics were vital, “their actual mental health and their safety is the most important thing.”
To support this, the Counseling Center offered free, short-term individual counseling sessions to all students, including athletes. Trainees and associates, under close supervision, facilitated these sessions.
The Counseling Center, located at 3626 Monroe St. in Riverside, Calif., provided an accessible first step for students seeking mental health support. However, Higgins noted that the center operated on a short-term model, typically offering six to eight sessions per student. For student-athletes dealing with more severe or specific issues, her office connected them with specialized off-campus resources.
Navigating these external resources involved challenges such as insurance coverage, transportation, and language barriers. “A lot of our student-athletes are international students. It’s really important for therapy to happen in your heart language,” Higgins said.
Her office ensured that students received the care they needed, even if it required helping them take breaks from athletics or academics.
CBU recognized that many student-athletes felt uncomfortable approaching administrators with their struggles. The university strengthened relationships between athletes and trusted figures, such as athletic trainers and assistant coaches, to bridge this gap.
“Athletic trainers, in particular, are a very important part of our multidisciplinary team because they have so much face-to-face time with our athletes,” Higgins said.
Dr. Henry, the team doctor, collaborated with Higgins on cases where mental and physical health intersected. “We can’t force students to feel comfortable with it, but we try to support the connections they make naturally and really rely on those relationships,” Higgins explained.
Through workshops and training, staff members learned to recognize signs of mental health struggles and direct students to appropriate resources.
John Sullivan, senior chemical engineering major and CBU swimmer, shared how he balanced the pressures of being a student-athlete.
“I’ve handled the pressure of balancing everything by having a pretty set routine and schedule and prioritizing certain things at the appropriate time,” Sullivan said. “It’s impossible to perfectly balance school, athletics, and personal life… sometimes one will have to be prioritized over the others.”
Sullivan emphasized the importance of a strong support system. “Having good relationships and surrounding yourself with a group of people with similar goals is easily the best way I’ve maintained my mental well-being.”
He also noted a positive shift in how mental health was addressed in college athletics. “I think there has been a big change… It is definitely taking more priority and more athletes are speaking up about it.”
While CBU continued to strengthen its support systems, Sullivan pointed out that the broader sports media landscape could also promote mental wellness. “While athletes are doing a better job at supporting each other, there are always so many negative sports articles. I don’t often hear about positive stories regarding sports, and it would be nice to see more of that.”
Through structured policies, accessible mental health resources and a focus on building trusted relationships, CBU remained committed to ensuring student-athletes received the support they needed. As awareness grew, the university strived to balance athletic success and overall well-being, proving that strength isn’t just physical—it’s also found in mental resilience and a strong support system.
