It's Okay To Not Be Okay

It's Okay To Not Be Okay: Tools For Self-Care & Mental Wellness

Being a student or student-athlete often means juggling academics, sports, family, and other responsibilities, creating immense pressure. Many students feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn, with the stigma surrounding mental health preventing them from reaching out for help.

In this keynote, Ivy shares her personal story as a former top-performing DII athlete and offers practical, actionable tools to help students navigate the challenges they face. Ivy empowers students to recognize that it’s okay to not be okay, and equips them with the self-care strategies they need to prioritize their mental wellness, while reminding them they are not alone in this journey.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn the importance of practicing self-care before mental health challenges become overwhelming.

• Discover practical self-care tools to manage stress and the pressures of being a student-athlete.

• Learn about available resources for support.

• Understand the importance of positive self-talk for performance in all areas of life

Supporting The Mental Health of Your Teammates: How You Can Make A Difference

This workshop is designed for student leaders who are passionate about making a difference in the mental wellness of their teammates and classmates. Participants will gain hands-on, practical tools to recognize early signs of mental health challenges in others, creating a supportive environment where mental health struggles are normalized and openly discussed.

Through interactive activities, attendees will learn how to implement sustainable strategies for fostering a culture of mental wellness, both on athletic teams and in classrooms. Additionally, they will walk away with self-care tools they can apply in their own lives, as well as share with their peers, empowering them to make a lasting impact on those around them.

Key Takeaways:

• Recognize warning signs of mental health challenges in their teammates

• Sustainable tools to create supportive mental wellness cultures on their athletic teams/in their classrooms to normalize mental health challenges.

• Learn practical and hands-on self-care tools to use with their peers and for themselves.

You Are More Than An Athlete: Life After Sports

Transitioning out of sports can be a challenging and overwhelming experience for athletes. This workshop empowers athletes to discover their identity beyond the game through storytelling and reflection. By exploring the “why” behind their passion for sports, athletes will learn how to use this insight to fuel success in life after athletics.

Athletes will also gain confidence-building tools to reduce fear and embrace new opportunities, turning this transition into a chance for personal growth and achievement and to understand that they are stronger than they think.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn identity outside of your sport

• Feel equipped to find activities that help to fuel your "why"

• Learn tools to provide compassion and care to yourself during this transition

• Increase confidence and reduce fears through various strength/confidence building activities including creating a Strength Statement