EUGENE, Ore. – A new partnership at the University of Oregon will develop programs to improve the mental health of student-athletes in K-12 schools throughout the state and also enhance care for UO student-athletes, according to college officials.
UO officials said that the university’s Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health and athletics department will develop programs to promote mental health in student-athletes from a young age. The collaboration will also support mental health needs of UO students enrolled in the Ballmer Institute’s child behavioral health training program, the college said. UO officials said the program has been made possible by a gift from longtime UO supporters Nancy and Dave Petrone.
“The Ballmer Institute is developing a range of innovative programs to address the growing need for behavioral health support among children and adolescents,” said Katie McLaughlin, executive director of the Ballmer Institute. “We are excited to collaborate with the University of Oregon Department of Athletics to create new approaches to promote well-being in student-athletes beginning early in life, and we are grateful for the generous gift from David and Nancy Petrone that has made this partnership possible.”
This initiative includes the creation of two full-time positions, one at the Ballmer Institute and the other within the UO Department of Athletics medical team, college officials said. The college said the clinician within the university’s athletics department will focus on the mental health needs of UO student-athletes and young adults, strengthen available related services, and increase clinical hours available to student-athletes.
The college said the program will launch at UO Portland’s new northeast campus in the fall of 2024 with an emphasis on promoting wellness among undergraduate students as they learn how to deliver youth mental health services within the community. The program also aims to improve retention in the behavioral health field, university officials said.
UO officials said the partnership has been in development since early 2023 with a search currently underway to fill new full-time staff positions.