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Mental Health and the Student Athlete Event

March 16, 2021

Join the Connect-OC Coalition for a panel discussion on the impact of mental health issues on student athletes, and the role that athletics can play in supporting mental wellness. We'll be discussing the impact of COVID-19 on student mental health through the unique lens of student athletics.

We have an incredible panel of experts, including:

David Mitchell, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist working at California State University Fullerton (CSUF), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). As an athletics liaison, Dr. Mitchell provides individual therapy, psychoeducation, and regularly consults with athletics administration to ensure the mental health needs of student athletes are met. Dr. Mitchell aims to reduce mental health stigma among student athletics and normalize help seeking behaviors.

Milo Dodson, PhD, is a licensed psychologist. He previously worked at UCI’s Counseling Center, where he served as a liaison to the Athletics Department, Esports Program, and therapist. Dr. Dodson is a committed advocate for service-based leadership, directing Hip-Hop artist Common’s Dreamers and Believers Summer Youth Camp for nearly six years, and volunteering for both Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp and Kenny Stills’ Still Growing Summit. Dr. Dodson co-hosts a podcast with nationally acclaimed radio personality Yesi Ortiz called Mental Health is R.E.A.L. (Reflecting Empathy and Love).

Noah Alvarez has coached youth sports in the Garden Grove & Santa Ana area the past 4 years. He currently serves as an assistant Football coach at Santiago High School. Noah also brings to light the importance of mental health & self-development in his podcast “My Mic and I with Noah Alvarez.” The OC native graduated with a B.A. in Broadcast Communications from California State University of Sacramento.

Leilani Madrigal, Ph.D., CMPC, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Long Beach. She received her B.A. and M.A. in General Psychology from California State University San Marcos and Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her research interests stem around the development and maintenance of mental toughness with aims to increase adaptive coping behaviors, reduce perceptions of stress, strengthen positive decision-making in sport, and facilitate overall performance and well-being of athletes. Her current study is examining how COVID-19 and other societal stressors have shaped psychological well-being, coping mechanisms and overall feelings of students

Bill Beacham, PhD, is Executive Director of the Center for Drug-Free Communities since 1988. He is California Board (BBS) Certified. He was a psychologist, teacher and coach in the public schools for 13-years and worked with the National Institute of Mental Health for 4-years. Bill has co-authored and contributed to several books, including the MLB Player Association's It's OK to Say No to Drugs. He has been the keynote speaker at many local, state & national conventions, including the the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) “Drugs and Today's Athlete” Conference, and the “National Student Assistance Conference”. He’s been a member of the US Olympic Committee. Bill has conducted workshops with many dignitaries including former President Bush, the White House staff and testified at Congressional Hearings.

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