Professional sport organizations and high performing employers share many characteristics โ they demand high quality performance with minimal mistakes, they require seamless communication and collaboration among members for the execution of their goals, and they are constantly looking for ways to improve performance and efficiency. These factors reinforce the importance of prioritizing team member wellness, as this is a necessary component for the health, safety, and performance of the organization. Mental wellness integration strategies seek to deliver resources, provide education and skill building opportunities, increase access to psychological resources, and reduce stigma. These efforts improve the well-being of the entire organization, which is associated with performance improvements.
This session focuses on three key components: (1) a review of how wellness initiatives promote high performance; (2) an overview of the best practices for wellness integration used within professional sports (at the league and team level); and (3) an introduction to how employer systems can apply some of these practices, both to broader organizations and specific teams. Throughout this session, speakers and attendees will discuss common barriers and challenges associated with wellness integration, plus examples for how to overcome them.
The speakers of this session represent varying perspectives. One is responsible for the entire wellness platform at the National Football League, overseeing all mental health and wellness resources within the NFL community. The other oversees a clinical sport psychology program responsible for building and implementing integrated mental wellness programs for a variety of professional, Olympic, and collegiate sport programs.
Learning Objectives
After completing this session, participants will be able to:
1. Identify common barriers or challenges associated with wellness integration.
2. Discuss best practices for the implementation of wellness initiatives, including key components and necessary resources, in pursuit of leading through change.
3. Identify at least one wellness initiative or strategy to implement at their organization, in support of well-being integration. 1 CECH Available