Assessing College Athletic Departments’ Ability to Implement the NCAA Mental Health Best Practices

Student-athletes endure rigorous schedules, intense pressure, and significant physical and mental strain, all while being expected to show no signs of weakness. This high-stakes environment can exacerbate mental health challenges (Harris & Maher, 2023; Rice et al, 2016 & Brown, 2021). To address these concerns, the NCAA’s Sport Science Institute developed mental health best practices to support college student-athletes. However, FBS Division I non-autonomous athletic programs often struggle to fully implement these guidelines due to resource limitations, despite their commitment to student-athlete well-being (2021; Beebe & Petrie, 2024). This study employs an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach to explore the lived experiences and perceptions of professionals working with student-athletes at select FBS Division I non-autonomous athletic programs regarding their programs’ ability to meet the NCAA’s mental health best practice recommendations. Representatives from eight of the twelve Mid-American Conference (MAC) athletic programs, all with expertise in their institutions’ mental health resources, participated in semi-structured interviews. Through IPA’s in-depth analysis, the findings reveal that while these programs provide essential mental health support, resource constraints hinder full adherence to key best practices. To address these challenges, this study offers budget-conscious recommendations aimed at strengthening mental health services and enhancing student-athlete well-being.