IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 732 

Expressing support for the designation of September 30, 2023, through 

October 7, 2023, as ‘‘National Student Athlete Mental Health Week’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 

Mr. CARL (for himself, Mr. ALLRED, Mr. TRONE, and Mr. OWENS) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of September 30, 

2023, through October 7, 2023, as ‘‘National Student 

Athlete Mental Health Week’’. 

Whereas nearly 8,000,000 high school and more than 

650,000 college students currently participate in athletics; 

Whereas 9,800 student athletes participated in a fall 2021 

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) survey 

on mental health, reporting elevated levels of mental 

health concerns; 

Whereas of the survey respondents— 

(1) only two-thirds indicated they knew where to 

seek mental health resources on campus; 


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•HRES 732 IH 

(2) less than half indicated they felt comfortable 

seeking mental health support on campus; and 

(3) just over half reported they knew how to help a 

teammate experiencing a mental health issue; 

Whereas student athletes, like their nonathlete peers, experience issues including stress, eating disorders, burnout, 

depression, and anxiety which in the most severe cases if 

left untreated may lead to suicide or suicidal ideation; 

Whereas studies show student athletes may be less likely to 

seek counseling and other professional help services; 

Whereas mental health stigma especially among athletes contributes to student athletes not seeking needed care or 

vocalizing their mental health concerns to parents, peers, 

and coaches; 

Whereas student athletes experience unique stressors, including expectations to perform and achieve in sports on top 

of their academic requirements; 

Whereas coaches and support staff are mentors to student 

athletes, and their knowledge of stigmatizing language 

and mental health services and resources can make a difference in the lives of athletes; 

Whereas prominent athletes have forgone competitions to address their mental health needs; 

Whereas mental health and physical health are equally important components of overall health; 

Whereas better publicly available data is needed to track the 

mental health of student athletes, including the rate of 

suicide among this demographic; and 

Whereas a week of public awareness and education campaigns to shine a light on the mental health crisis is held 


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•HRES 732 IH 

the first week of October every year, leading up to 

‘‘World Mental Health Day’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals of ‘‘Mental Illness 

3 Awareness Week’’ and additionally supports the des4 ignation of a ‘‘National Student Athlete Mental 

5 Health Week’’ to bring attention to the unique men6 tal health experience of our country’s student ath7 letes; 

8 (2) encourages institutions of higher education 

9 and their athletic departments to participate by ad10 dressing stigma and highlighting resources for their 

11 student-athlete populations; 

12 (3) supports institutions of higher education 

13 and organizations already engaged in the work of 

14 educating athletic departments and students, includ15 ing the NCAA’s development of data-driven mental 

16 health best practices; 

17 (4) encourages athletic directors to include 

18 mental health resources for student athletes and 

19 best practices for suicide prevention alongside man20 datory trainings; and 

21 (5) encourages the President to issue a procla22 mation calling on the people of the United States to 

23 observe ‘‘National Student Athlete Mental Health 


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•HRES 732 IH 

1 Week’’ with appropriate awareness and educational 

2 activities. 

Æ 


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