Minium: ODU has invested heavily to provide mental health care for all of its athletes

By Harry Minium

NORFOLK, Va. – Simone Cunningham is a gifted women’s basketball player who makes the most of her talent with her determined and sometimes emotional work ethic.

She led Old Dominion last season in rebounding (6.9 per game) and blocked shots (23) and was one of the best shooters (6.9 points. 51.4 shooting percentage) on a team that didn’t particularly shoot well. She was also a stellar defensive player.

But few knew that last season while when she played so hard, and at times was such an inspiration on the court, she was struggling with mental health issues.

She decided to go public with the struggles that so many student-athletes hide on World Mental Health Day, which is observed on Thursday, Oct. 10.

She says she is doing so in an effort to encourage student-athletes to seek mental health counseling if they are struggling.

“I do have severe anxiety, and I wasn’t sure how to handle it coming into college,” she said in an interview recorded by Ryan Parncutt, ODU’s director of athletic marketing and social media.

“There were plenty of cases when I was having (an anxiety issue) either in practice or during a game. And I didn’t really understand what was going on.”

So, Cunningham sought out counseling at ODU's Student-Athlete Mental Health and Well-Being Center.

The center was founded by ODU athletics and begun more than two years ago by Sonja Lund, who is now the department’s associate athletics director of student-athlete mental health & well-being. Lund has a doctorate in counselor education and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia.

Cunningham encourages all ODU student-athletes to seek help if they need it.

“You’re not just a player, you’re a person. Love your person the same way you love your sports," she said. "Today, I encourage you to prioritize your mental health because your mental health is just as important as your physical health. You should prioritize it every day.”

Cunningham transferred to ODU from a junior college and found the challenges of playing Division I basketball much more daunting.

“It was a different transition for me,” she said. “I remember last season playing William & Mary. I wasn’t having a good game. My coach really needed me and wanted me in the game but I just couldn’t think and couldn’t breathe. I remember going to the end of the bench and I was just staring. I wasn’t even involved in the game at that point.

“I remember her calling my name and it was like muffled and I couldn’t get out of that moment. After the game, I remember telling myself that I never want to be put in that position again where I don’t know how to get out of it, especially when my team needs me.”

She said therapy taught her coping mechanisms. “I learned breathing techniques to help me calm down when I’m in one of those moments. To those of you facing the challenges of mental health, please do not be discouraged to go and seek out help.”

ODU’s athletic counseling program was made possible by a $150,000 donation from the Kenneth A. Hall and Patricia A. Hall Charitable Foundation. The fund was established by Ken Hall, the founder Hall Automotive, who before his death bequeathed millions of dollars to benefit good causes.

Gray Kiger Sr., one of the executives of the Hall Foundation, is personally familiar with mental illness. His son, Gray, a standout member of the ODU sailing team, committed suicide in 2017.  

Gray suffered from severe depression, which he hid from his parents and all those around him.

Jena Virga, executive director of the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation, said when Kiger was told about ODU’s plans to begin counseling students, he was eager to help.

CLICK HERE FOR STORY ABOUT ODU SAILING ATHLETE GRAY KIGER

The program has been a huge success. In 2023-24, 121 student-athletes, more than a quarter of all ODU athletes, were seen for 776 counseling sessions. The athletes were surveyed anonymously, and 100 percent agreed that ODU protected their privacy.

More importantly, 89 percent said they saw improvements in their athletic and academic performances and/or quality of life because of counseling. The 89 percent strongly agreed that counseling led to “positive life changes.”

A year earlier, in 2022-23, Lund and her staff held 603 counseling sessions. Precise numbers weren’t kept on the total of athletes said but Lund said she believes more than 90 received counseling.

The demand for services has also increased this season so far over last, she said.

ODU also offers counseling services for the general student population in the newly opened offices in the Student Recreation Center. ODU President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., made it a priority when he came to the University in 2021 to expand student mental health services.

Dr. Joy Himmell, the director of ODU's counseling services, heads a 20-person staff that handles thousands of counseling sessions each year.

Psychiatrist Dr. Kathreen Tadrous deals with students who need mental health medicine. Athletics does not have a psychiatrist and Dr. Tadrous generally handles student-athletes who need mental health meds.

“She really works well with us,” Lund said.

Students are seen free of cost at both centers and while they offer similar services, Dr. Wood Selig, ODU’s director of athletics, determined three years ago that student-athletes needed more specialized help.

While young people everywhere have been increasingly struggling with mental health issues, athletes face challenges not faced by most students. The time demands of traveling to games, practice, working out even in the offseason and often dealing with the stresses of winning and losing and dealing with teammates and coaches can cause unique challenges.

Dr. Selig’s proposal was approved by President Hemphill.

Lund immediately hired Rennel Marshall, a former athlete, as a part-time student-athlete well-being counselor. He also handles emergency calls after hours.

Along with Marshall, Lund has Avanté Pringle, who is an intern working on a Master’s degree and Danielle Rodgers, who is working on her doctorate, supplement the workload borne by Lund and Marshall. With a diverse staff Lund is able to make the student-athletes feel as comfortable as possible when they walk in for a session.

Lund said she and her staff counsel athletes dealing with expected problems – a breakup with a significant other, strugges with roommates and at times, with students struggling with time management.

But they have also encountered dozens of athletes suffering from severe depression and/or anxiety, and even borderline personality.

Suicide was the second-leading cause of deaths among student athletes over the last 20 years, according to the National Institute of Health, a painful statistic for Gray and Diane Kiger. Fortunately, in her time at ODU, Lund and her staff have dealt with only one severely suicidal student athlete.

The athlete had to be hospitalized for a time and required frequent follow-up care. The athlete has since graduated and is doing well, Lund said.

Alas, there is a huge gender gap among student athletes receiving help – 35, or just 29 percent, of ODU athletes seeking help in 2023-24 were male.

“It’s still a stigma very much” for some males, Lund said. “But I feel like many of our athletes are telling their friends and teammates about their experiences here, and I feel like that happens in a more private setting than talking about it in front of a bunch of other guys.

“It helps that we’ve been established for a couple of years. Students are now referring their teammates over here. I’ve had students walk their teammates over and introduce us to them and say, ‘Hey, this is who I meet with, and it’s really been nice to have someone to talk to.’

“If we establish a good rapport, we can usually get them back in for a second appointment.”

Lund meets with every team prior to the fall season and holds some work shops. Counseling appointments can be made online, by phone or even by walking into their offices, located in an ODU office building at 4211 Monarch Way, across Hampton Boulevard from the main campus (Phone: 757-683-5969).

While Lund and her staff at times feel overworked, they maintain at least one walk-in session per day for those needing immediate help.

The Sun Belt Conference, which has encouraged conference members to begin counseling programs like ODU’s, also made an online counseling program available to all Sun Belt student-athletes.

Athletes simply go to www.timelycare.com, input their school information, and they have access to nine online sessions with therapists. It’s convenient for athletes who travel a lot, and also because Lund can’t technically do therapy sessions with them when they are out of state.

“They also have a chat site and if you click on it, you’re chatting with a therapist right away,” Lund said. “In the moment, if a student is having a panic attack or some other crisis, or if they are so sad, they don’t know what to do, this is a great future.

“You don’t even need to get on the phone. You can just text and when you do, it doesn’t count as a session.”

Student-athletes are generally limited to 14 sessions in the ODU program, but that’s only a guideline. “If an athlete needs more than 14 sessions, we will do whatever it takes,” Lund said.

Cunningham said that a key to recovering from her issues was Head Coach DeLisha Milton-Jones becoming involved in her counseling.

She said Milton-Jones learned how best to talk to her, “to get me out of my head at that moment. And now, if I do (get anxious), which I will say, I’m not having as much of them, my coach knows what to say to me, and the moment may not last as long as it normally does for me.

“And so now I’m able to still be there for my team, for myself, for our fans, who love and support us every step of the way.”

Young people are very involved in social media and she says that she and her teammates see how fans react to wins and losses online. Cunningham had some advice for fans at all levels of college athletics.

 “One bad performance doesn’t make you who you are as a player or a person,” she said. “We are people outside of our sports, and we do have feelings.”

Minium is ODU’s senior executive writer. Contact him at hminium@odu.edu or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram

 

By Harry Minium

NORFOLK, Va. – Simone Cunningham is a gifted women’s basketball player who makes the most of her talent with her determined and sometimes emotional work ethic.

She led Old Dominion last season in rebounding (6.9 per game) and blocked shots (23) and was one of the best shooters (6.9 points. 51.4 shooting percentage) on a team that didn’t particularly shoot well. She was also a stellar defensive player.

But few knew that last season while when she played so hard, and at times was such an inspiration on the court, she was struggling with mental health issues.

She decided to go public with the struggles that so many student-athletes hide on World Mental Health Day, which is observed on Thursday, Oct. 10.

She says she is doing so in an effort to encourage student-athletes to seek mental health counseling if they are struggling.

“I do have severe anxiety, and I wasn’t sure how to handle it coming into college,” she said in an interview recorded by Ryan Parncutt, ODU’s director of athletic marketing and social media.

“There were plenty of cases when I was having (an anxiety issue) either in practice or during a game. And I didn’t really understand what was going on.”

So, Cunningham sought out counseling at ODU's Student-Athlete Mental Health and Well-Being Center.

The center wasfounded by ODU athletics and begun more than two years ago by Sonja Lund, who is now the department’s associate athletics director of student-athlete mental health & well-being. Lund has a doctorate in counselor education and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia.

Cunningham encourages all ODU student-athletes to seek help if they need it.

“You’re not just a player, you’re a person. Love your person the same way you love your sports," she said. "Today, I encourage you to prioritize your mental health because your mental health is just as important as your physical health. You should prioritize it every day.”

Cunningham transferred to ODU from a junior college and found the challenges of playing Division I basketball much more daunting.

“It was a different transition for me,” she said. “I remember last season playing William & Mary. I wasn’t having a good game. My coach really needed me and wanted me in the game but I just couldn’t think and couldn’t breathe. I remember going to the end of the bench and I was just staring. I wasn’t even involved in the game at that point.

“I remember her calling my name and it was like muffled and I couldn’t get out of that moment. After the game, I remember telling myself that I never want to be put in that position again where I don’t know how to get out of it, especially when my team needs me.”

She said therapy taught her coping mechanisms. “I learned breathing techniques to help me calm down when I’m in one of those moments. To those of you facing the challenges of mental health, please do not be discouraged to go and seek out help.”

ODU’s athletic counseling program was made possible by a $150,000 donation from the Kenneth A. Hall and Patricia A. Hall Charitable Foundation. The fund was established by Ken Hall, the founder Hall Automotive, who before his death bequeathed millions of dollars to benefit good causes.

Gray Kiger Sr., one of the executives of the Hall Foundation, is personally familiar with mental illness. His son, Gray, a standout member of the ODU sailing team, committed suicide in 2017.  

Gray suffered from severe depression, which he hid from his parents and all those around him.

Jena Virga, executive director of the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation, said when Kiger was told about ODU’s plans to begin counseling students, he was eager to help.

CLICK HERE FOR STORY ABOUT ODU SAILING ATHLETE GRAY KIGER

The program has been a huge success. In 2023-24, 121 student-athletes, more than a quarter of all ODU athletes, were seen for 776 counseling sessions. The athletes were surveyed anonymously, and 100 percent agreed that ODU protected their privacy.

More importantly, 89 percent said they saw improvements in their athletic and academic performances and/or quality of life because of counseling. The 89 percent strongly agreed that counseling led to “positive life changes.”

A year earlier, in 2022-23, Lund and her staff held 603 counseling sessions. Precise numbers weren’t kept on the total of athletes said but Lund said she believes more than 90 received counseling.

The demand for services has also increased this season so far over last, she said.

ODU also offers counseling services for the general student population in the newly opened offices in the Student Recreation Center. ODU President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., made it a priority when he came to the University in 2021 to expand student mental health services.

Dr. Joy Himmell, the director of ODU's counseling services, heads a 20-person staff that handles thousands of counseling sessions each year.

Psychiatrist Dr. Kathreen Tadrous deals with students who need mental health medicine. Athletics does not have a psychiatrist and Dr. Tadrous generally handles student-athletes who need mental health meds.

“She really works well with us,” Lund said.

Students are seen free of cost at both centers and while they offer similar services, Dr. Wood Selig, ODU’s director of athletics, determined three years ago that student-athletes needed more specialized help.

While young people everywhere have been increasingly struggling with mental health issues, athletes face challenges not faced by most students. The time demands of traveling to games, practice, working out even in the offseason and often dealing with the stresses of winning and losing and dealing with teammates and coaches can cause unique challenges.

Dr. Selig’s proposal was approved by President Hemphill.

Lund immediately hired Rennel Marshall, a former athlete, as a part-time student-athlete well-being counselor. He also handles emergency calls after hours.

Along with Marshall, Lund has Avanté Pringle, who is an intern working on a Master’s degree and Danielle Rodgers, who is working on her doctorate, supplement the workload borne by Lund and Marshall. With a diverse staff Lund is able to make the student-athletes feel as comfortable as possible when they walk in for a session.

Lund said she and her staff counsel athletes dealing with expected problems – a breakup with a significant other, strugges with roommates and at times, with students struggling with time management.

But they have also encountered dozens of athletes suffering from severe depression and/or anxiety, and even borderline personality.

Suicide was the second-leading cause of deaths among student athletes over the last 20 years, according to the National Institute of Health, a painful statistic for Gray and Diane Kiger. Fortunately, in her time at ODU, Lund and her staff have dealt with only one severely suicidal student athlete.

The athlete had to be hospitalized for a time and required frequent follow-up care. The athlete has since graduated and is doing well, Lund said.

Alas, there is a huge gender gap among student athletes receiving help – 35, or just 29 percent, of athletes seeking help in 2023-24 were male.

“It’s still a stigma very much” for some males, Lund said. “But I feel like many of our athletes are telling their friends and teammates about their experiences here, and I feel like that happens in a more private setting than talking about it in front of a bunch of other guys.

“It helps that we’ve been established for a couple of years. Students are now referring their teammates over here. I’ve had students walk their teammates over and introduce us to them and say, ‘Hey, this is who I meet with, and it’s really been nice to have someone to talk to.’

“If we establish a good rapport, we can usually get them back in for a second appointment.”

Lund meets with every team prior to the fall season and holds some work shops. Counseling appointments can be made online, by phone or even by walking into their offices, located in an ODU office building at 4211 Monarch Way, across Hampton Boulevard from the main campus (Phone: 757-683-5969).

While Lund and her staff at times feel overworked, they maintain at least one walk-in session per day for those needing immediate help.

The Sun Belt Conference, which has encouraged conference members to begin counseling programs like ODU’s, also made an online counseling program available to all Sun Belt student-athletes.

Athletes simply go to www.timelycare.com, input their school information, and they have access to nine online sessions with therapists. It’s convenient for athletes who travel a lot, and also because Lund can’t technically do therapy sessions with them when they are out of state.

“They also have a chat site and if you click on it, you’re chatting with a therapist right away,” Lund said. “In the moment, if a student is having a panic attack or some other crisis, or if they are so sad, they don’t know what to do, this is a great feuture.

“You don’t even need to get on the phone. You can just text and when you do, it doesn’t count as a session.”

Student-athletes are generally limited to 14 sessions in the ODU program, but that’s only a guideline. “If an athlete needs more than 14 sessions, we will do whatever it takes,” Lund said.

Cunningham said that a key to recovering from her issues was Head Coach DeLisha Milton-Jones becoming involved in her counseling.

She said Milton-Jones learned how best to talk to her, “to get me out of my head at that moment. And now, if I do (get anxious), which I will say, I’m not having as much of them, my coach knows what to say to me, and the moment may not last as long as it normally does for me.

“And so now I’m able to still be there for my team, for myself, for our fans, who love and support us every step of the way.”

Young people are very involved in social media and she says that she and her teammates see how fans react to wins and losses online. Cunningham had some advice for fans at all levels of college athletics.

“We are people outside of our sports,” she said. “One bad performance doesn’t make you who you are as a player or a person. We are people outside of our sports, and we do have feelings.”

Minium is ODU’s senior executive writer. Contact him at hminium@odu.edu or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram