VitalCog Training for Athletics

This effort is associated with North Dakota's State Suicide Prevention Program, funded by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Behavioral Health Division (BHD). Therefore, this course is restricted to participants in North Dakota.

IMPORTANT: This is an interactive training, and we will use breakout rooms. Please be in a space where your camera can be on and be ready to join breakout rooms. This course will NOT be recorded.

This course is appropriate for adults (18+) working with any level of athlete (e.g., high school, collegiate, recreational).

Who: Coaches, administrators, academic staff, strength & conditioning coaches, and other interested athletic staff members.

Date & time: Monday, January 27, 1pm to 3pm CT (via Zoom; this will NOT be recorded)

If you are unable to make this date & time, you can request a course for your organization.

The program trains you to appreciate the critical need for suicide prevention while creating an opportunity for open conversations and resources in athletics.

The health and well-being of young adults (ages 18 to 24) is suffering, which is reflected in data related to suicide. Suicide rates for people ages 20-24 increased 63% from 2001 through 2021 (Curtin & Garnett, 2023). Like the general population, suicide is one of the leading causes of death among NCAA athletes, and data suggest that student-athlete deaths by suicide doubled within the past 10 years (Whelan et al., 2024).

Athletic staff play a critical role in the health and well-being of student-athletes. Therefore, it's important to learn how to identify risk factors and warning signs of suicide and how to build protective factors and safety nets for student-athletes.

This course is an essential-level course that will focus on identifying risk and protective factors for suicide as well as practicing critical skills related to discussing suicide with student-athletes. We will also discuss how to integrate learned skills and concepts into your MHEAP.

Instructor

Erin Haugen, PhD, LP, CMPC, is a licensed psychologist specializing in clinical & sport psychology. She has extensive experience working in elite sport and keen knowledge of the sport ecosystem.

Investment

This course is FREE for athletic staff in North Dakota thanks to funding from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Behavioral Health Division.

Zoom link

The Zoom link will be sent to your email immediately after you register for this course (check your SPAM!). If you do not receive this email after registering, please contact us ASAP so we can get it to you.

Learning objectives

1. Describe how to build protective factors and safety nets for student-athletes as it relates to well-being and suicide.
2. Identify risk factors and warning signs for suicide in student-athletes.
3. Utilize critical skills to practice conversations around suicide with student-athletes.

Strength & Conditioning Coaches (NSCA): The National Strength and Conditioning Association approved 0.2 CEUs in category A for certified individuals attending this event.

Occasionally, participating in mental health trainings such as this can result in distressing feelings. If you need immediate mental health assistance, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

Non-discrimination & accommodations

HPC does discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, military status, sexual orientation, or age. HPC is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in all aspects of its continuing education activities. Participants who have special needs are encouraged to contact program organizers so all reasonable efforts to accommodate these needs can be made. Please address requests, questions, concerns, and complaints to HPC's Founder & CEO at hello @ haugenperformance .com

Event Venue

Online