UNLV Bolsters Athlete Mental Health with Counseling, TOPPS Program

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas athletics department has deepened its commitment to student-athlete mental health through its Sport Psychology program, an extension of UNLV Counseling and Psychological Services. In line with NCAA Mental Health Best Practice Guidelines, all incoming Rebels complete a mandatory mental health screening with the team. Free individual counseling sessions, lasting 30 to 60 minutes, are available in-person or via telehealth for issues like anxiety, depression and performance hurdles. The UNLV Student-Athlete Wellness group, reachable via Dr. Raven Townsel at [email protected], promotes awareness and combats stigma on campus.

A cornerstone of UNLV's efforts is The Optimum Performance Program in Sports (TOPPS), developed by psychology professor Donohue with a four-year, $2 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Unlike traditional sport psychology, TOPPS employs graduate student coaches to deliver standardized interventions addressing depression, anxiety, substance abuse and unsafe behaviors through workshops, goal visualization and life skills like financial management. A pilot with dozens of athletes showed sharp gains in academic performance and reduced illicit drug use, though binge drinking proved resistant.

In a landmark clinical trial six years ago, UNLV researchers assessed 74 athletes, finding 80% with current or past mental health disorders. Participants were split between traditional counseling and a TOPPS variant adapted from Family Behavior Therapy, incorporating family, sport culture and performance goals to minimize stigma. The study, detailed in UNLV's digital scholarship repository, confirmed TOPPS's edge in enhancing mental health, sport performance and social functioning for Las Vegas Rebels facing the unique pressures of Mountain West competition.