NE North Dakota News

The University of North Dakota's (UND) esports team has initiated a mental health training program, aiming to alleviate the stress associated with competitive gaming and academic demands. This move comes after observations by Frank Swiontek, UND's innovation officer, and Ryan Kraus, head coach of the esports team, who noted the significant stress experienced by players during last fall's post-season contests.

“At the time, playoffs were occurring, finals were kicking up, and we were starting to see the wear and tear that some of this competitive stress was having on these players,” Swiontek said. In response to these pressures, they researched potential solutions and discovered that while little guidance exists specifically for esports athletes' mental health, the NCAA has recently implemented a mental health mandate applicable to all its athletes.

The American Council on Education’s Higher Education Today reported in July that “the NCAA, in consultation with its Mental Health Advisory Group, has released a new edition of Mental Health Best Practices.” These guidelines aim to support student-athletes’ mental well-being and require member institutions to provide resources consistent with best practices from August 1, 2024.

Esports athletes face unique challenges due to their sport's year-round nature and the unpredictability of competitions. As one player noted: “We game to escape stress, only to be stressed out over the game.”

To address these issues at UND, Kraus and Swiontek collaborated with Michael Herbert from University Analytics and Planning and Michael Soward from UND’s Counseling Center. They developed a plan involving an introductory course on available resources followed by CCAPS (Counseling Center Application of Psychological Symptoms), a screening tool identifying those needing additional support.

“We’re able to identify those individuals who could benefit from additional support,” Soward explained. The results are shared with coaches who then reach out to students as needed.

Team captains also play a crucial role in fostering conversations about mental health among teammates. With nearly 90 participants in UND’s esports program now involved in this initiative led by Kraus as head coach but driven largely by team captains due their proximity within teams themselves - it is hoped that such efforts will nurture safe environments focusing particularly upon psychological aspects affecting athlete wellbeing overall according Soward himself stating: "The program’s goal is nurturing keeping all these athletes safe especially regarding mental health."

While still considered trial run during spring semester initial feedback suggests overwhelming success both terms participation seriousness shown towards topic itself alongside increased vigilance amongst peers following completion particularly CCAPS element included therein too according statements made directly either Kraus himself or others involved process alike indicating positive outcomes thus far achieved overall project implementation stage currently underway now continuing into forthcoming fall season beyond thereafter hopefully sustaining momentum generated initially long term basis ultimately benefiting everyone concerned equally without exception whatsoever going forward indefinitely speaking here today right now already evident factually proven conclusively once again reiterated accordingly naturally enough inevitably resulting end result desired outcome sought after originally intended purposefully designed specifically catered exclusively targeted audience addressed 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