Ivy Watts

SAAC Mental Health Consultant

ivy@ivywattsspeaks.com

Ivy Watts, who is Mental Health First Aid Certified, promotes mental wellness and reduces stigma around mental illness by sharing her story through public speaking and her writing. A former NCAA track student-athlete, Ivy empowers others to speak their truths, know that they are not alone, learn the beauty of self-love, and find strength to keep fighting for their tomorrows.

She serves as a key resource to the GNAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Commissioner's Council, specifically focused on her COVID-19 Mental Health Support Modules. The GNAC will work with Ivy during the 2020-21 academic year in an effort to continue the focus on these discussions for other GNAC SAAC student-athletes.

"I am incredibly grateful to be able to work with the GNAC to create spaces for meaningful mental health conversations among student-athletes," said Watts. "Unfortunately, COVID has only amplified the mental health issues that student-athletes were likely already experiencing, by taking away so many important aspects of life, in such a short time. Mental Health Support During COVID-19 and Beyond is a set of modules that was created with the goal of providing support specifically during COVID-19 for the loss that student-athletes are likely struggling with. The modules aim to provide student-athletes with tools for their mental wellness during this tough time, so that they can develop their strength and resiliency for tough times that come in the future."

"The GNAC is doing great work to create a strong mental wellness foundation for its student-athletes by investing in mental health programming and resources," added Watts. "I am so glad that my modules will be part of helping GNAC student-athletes build their mental wellness toolkit."