Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Takes Historic Step In Athlete's Mental Health Care by Partnering with Collegiate Behavioral Health Associates

Collegiate Behavioral Health Associates (CBHA) has entered a groundbreaking partnership with the CIAA to prioritize mental health care for all student-athletes in the conference. This historic collaboration marks the first of its kind in NCAA Division II, with CBHA leading the way in comprehensive mental health care for athletes.

BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Collegiate Behavioral Health Associates (CBHA) aimed at prioritizing mental health care for student-athletes across the conference. CIAA is the first conference of the NCAA Division II to partner with CBHA.

CBHA is the leading provider of comprehensive, full-service mental health care for student-athletes. Founded with a mission to redefine mental health care standards, CBHA addresses the mental health needs of collegiate athletes by proactively reaching out to them on a quarterly basis.  The program will be implemented for all student-athletes across the conference.

"I am thankful for this intentional work and partnership to focus on what we all know is critical to how our student-athletes thrive and show up every day on the field and in the classroom," said Jacqie McWilliams-Parker, Commissioner of the CIAA. "Partnering with CBHA allows CIAA leadership to address the ongoing mental health concerns of our student athletes and it gives us an opportunity to really focus with a partner that has created intentional space towards supporting student athlete mental wellness!"

As part of this partnership, CBHA's program will provide the following services to every student-athlete of the CIAA:

• Self-report screenings focused on suicidality, depression, anxiety, alcohol use and eating disorders. CBHA will provide a full range of mental health services, from early screenings to options for ongoing therapy.  The process ensures that athletes receive the care they need when they need it.
  
  
• 1-on-1 Initial Diagnostic Interviews with a qualified, licensed mental health professional chosen from a diverse network to meet the specific needs of every athlete.  Every assessment closely follows confidentiality protocols.
  
  
• 100% Digital Approach allows student-athletes to complete their sessions and interviews from the comfort of anywhere.
  
  
• Recurring 90-Day Cycle, allowing our program to consistently reach out to student-athletes and ensure their mental health is always taken care of.

"We are proud to join forces with the CIAA Conference to prioritize and provide full-service mental health care for their 13 institutions," said Steve Wigginton, Chief Executive Officer of CBHA. "It's a significant milestone for us to be providing this level of care and ensure every single one of these athletes gets the support they need."

This partnership represents both a significant milestone in collegiate athletics and a precedent for other conferences and institutions to follow. Together, CBHA and CIAA are dedicated to creating a safer, healthier, and more supportive environment for collegiate athletes to thrive both on and off the field.

Media Contact

Victor Torres, Collegiate Behavioral Health Associates, 1 8884891431 2009, vtorres@cbhamedical.com, www.cbhamedical.com

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SOURCE Collegiate Behavioral Health Associates