Mouhamad Ballout and Mallie Hall of Wichita State’s mental health and performance department join the podcast as part of suicide prevention month. We discuss the importance of prominent figures speaking about mental challenges, and how Ballout and Hall help athletes learn why it is crucial to recharge their batteries. We also talk about handling social media, advice for parents and book recommendations. The mental health and performance department is holding a mental health summit for Wichita State student-athletes, sponsored by Suspenders4Hope, on Sept. 30.
Dr. Brianna Ward is athlete mental health coordinator and staff psychologist at Wichita State, a position she has held since August 2020. Ward discusses how she moved into working with athletes as a career, how Wichita State is helping its student-athletes during these challenging times and the progress on removing the stigma of asking for help. Ward also reveals her favorite college football player and the restaurant she frequents during her short time as a Wichitan.
