Interactive learning activities focused on developing adaptive coping skills such as: thinking positive thoughts, releasing stress, breathing exercises, and connecting with others.
Strong Minds Info & Resources:
Strong Minds is an interactive learning activity focused on developing adaptive coping skills. Competition provides a natural opportunity to develop active strategies for maintaining emotional wellness under stress, such as: thinking positive thoughts, releasing stress and connecting with others. Athletes try a few different active coping strategies as they move through the stations. Before exiting, athletes identify the strategies they like best and volunteers provide them with visual reminders to use these tools in competition and in daily life.
The objectives of Strong Minds include:
- Increase athlete awareness of active coping strategies that can be used in competition and in life
- Support athletes to identify stress management/coping strategies that they like and think the will use
- Provide resources on good coping for athletes, coaches & caregivers
- Start conversations about stress, coping, and emotional wellness
- Provide training and experiences for mental health student and professionals to discuss emotional well-being with individuals with Intellectual Disabilities.
Additional research conducted with athletes at Special Olympics events has shown:
- 12% of athletes report having no coping strategies
- 62% mostly use avoidant strategies (e.g., not think the stressor), which is associated with increased depression
- 26% mostly use active strategies (e.g. doing something to help themselves to feel better), which is associated with increased well-being
Athlete & Coach Resources
Resources for Healthcare Professionals
Interested in becoming a Strong Minds clinical director?
Clinical Directors are an important part of the Healthy Athletes Strong Minds team. Clinical Directors are responsible for working with their local Special Olympics Program and other volunteer health professionals in coordinating a Strong Minds event in their region.
- To learn more about what it takes to become a Strong Minds clinical director click here.
- If you are interested in becoming a clinical director or learning more, please fill out this form.
Interested in volunteering at a Strong Minds event?
Volunteer roles are available for individuals of all backgrounds including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, Behavior Analysts, Nurse Practitioners, Physicians, and students. Examples of volunteer roles available at Strong Minds screenings include:
- Athlete evaluation
- Athlete education
- Athlete registration
- Athlete guides
To register to volunteer at a Strong Minds event contact Kellie Murphy at murph4kj@cmich.edu