Mental Health and Performance Services

Kansas Team Health and the Mental Health and Performance (MHAPS) Team are committed to enhancing the mental wellness of student-athletes on and off the field of play. The goal is to provide each student-athlete excellent care and a positive experience.

Overview of Mental Health and Performance

Mental health and mental performance are essential components of student-athlete well-being, development, and success. Kansas Team Health and the Mental Health and Performance Services (MHAPS) team are committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care that supports student-athletes as they navigate the demands of academics, athletics, and life.

MHAPS offers confidential individual counseling, individual mental performance consultation, and team consultation and workshops. Individual counseling supports student-athletes in addressing concerns such as anxiety, stress, depression, relational growth, injury recovery, disordered eating, substance use concerns, and sleep disturbances. Mental performance consultation helps student-athletes develop the mental skills needed for peak performance, with common areas of focus including motivation, performance anxiety, goal-setting, confidence, communication, leadership development, and resilience both in and out of sport.

Services

MHAPS services are available to all eligible KU student-athletes and can be utilized year-round, both in and out of season. Free and confidential appointments are offered, with flexible scheduling to meet individual needs. Student-athletes interested in beginning services can using the questionnaire and scheduling links below.

A blue and white baseball glove with a bright yellow ball in the palm.

Individual Counseling

Individual counseling provides a confidential space for student-athletes to address mental health concerns and personal challenges that may impact well-being and performance. Areas of support include, but are not limited to, heightened anxiety, stress management, depression, relational growth, injury recovery, disordered eating, substance use concerns, sleep disturbances, and other factors that affect success both in and out of sport.

Mental Performance Consultation

Mental performance consultation services help student-athletes develop the mental skills needed to perform at their best and reach their full potential. Working collaboratively with our MHAPS team, student-athletes can strengthen the psychological skills that support success in sport and beyond. Common areas of focus include increasing motivation, managing performance anxiety, setting and achieving goals, building confidence, improving communication, developing leadership skills, enhancing focus and concentration, and fostering resilience in the face of challenges and adversity.

LAWRENCE, KS - February 17, 2023 - the Kansas Jayhawks tennis team during the match between Kansas and Arizona at the Jayhawk Tennis Center in Lawrence, KS. Photo by Missy Minear/Kansas Athletics

Team Consultation and Workshops

Team consultation and workshops provide education, training, and skill-building opportunities that support team culture, well-being, and performance. Sessions are tailored to the unique needs of each team and may focus on mental performance skills, team culture development, communication, leadership, accountability, and strategies that help student-athletes thrive both individually and collectively.

Schedule an Appointment

Student-athletes can schedule an appointment with our MHAPS Team in one of several ways:

Reach out directly to one of our MHAPS providers through email, phone call, text message, or Teamworks
Sign up for an appointment using the online scheduling platform.

Prior to your first appointment:

Questionnaire for Initial Consultation
This questionnaire is expected to take between 15 and 20 minutes to complete. Should you decide to save your responses and return to complete later, a code will be provided for you to continue where you left off. All you need is the return code.

Schedule

Contact Us

Offices are located in Wagnon Student-Athlete Center, Monday-Friday by appointment


Jeff Ruser, Ph.D., CMPC Director of Mental Health and Performance Services Email: jruser@ku.edu	Kristie Baumchen, LSCSW, LCAC Associate Director of Mental Health and Performance Services Email: kbaumchen@ku.edu	Isaiah Robinson-McBride, LPC Athletic Counselor, Mental Health and Performance Services Email: irobinsonmcbride@ku.edu

Online Resources

Coaches / Staff Resources

The MHAPS team collaborates with coaches and staff to enhance student-athlete well-being, performance, and development. Providers work closely with assigned sport programs to deliver team workshops, individualized coach consultation, and ongoing support in areas such as mental performance, communication, leadership, team culture, and mental health. Contact your team MHAPS liaison.

References
NCAA Sport Science Institute. (2016). Mental Health Best Practices: Inter-Association Consensus Document: Best Practices for Understanding and Supporting Student-Athlete Mental Wellness. https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2016/5/2/mental-health-best-practices.aspx

NCAA. (2014). Mind, Body, & Sport: Understanding and Supporting Student-Athlete Wellness. http://www.ncaapublications.com/p-4375-mind-body-and-sport-understanding-and-supporting-student-athlete-mental-wellness.aspx

Campus Resources

Crisis Resources

If you or someone you know is in crisis or has urgent needs, help is available 24/7. You can call or text 988 or access any of the resources in the boxes below.

If you believe your life is in imminent danger and you cannot keep yourself safe, or you or someone else has decided to seriously harm or kill yourself/themselves or someone else, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room, Lawrence Memorial Hospital (325 Maine St., Lawrence, KS 66044) or the Douglas County Treatment & Recovery Center (1000 W 2nd St., Lawrence, KS 66044).

Crisis Resources and Services that provide 24/7 assistance:

Call/text: 988
988 Lifeline Chat and Text : Lifeline
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Headquarters Counseling Center,, 785-841-2345
Sexual Trauma & Abuse Care Center, 785-843-8985 **
The Willow Domestic Violence Center, 785-843-3333 **
https://help.ku.edu/mental-health-resources
My SSP @ KU 1-866-408-2828
KU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), 785-864-2277
Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center (Douglas County), 785-843-9192
Kansas Crisis Hotline, 1-888-END-ABUSE (363-2287)
The Willow Domestic Violence Center, 785-843-3333
The Sexual Trauma & Abuse Care Center, 785-843-8985
Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center (Douglas County) , 785-843-9192
Crisis Support | Counseling and Psychological Services (ku.edu)

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