Former IndyCar driver Robert Wickens will be a keynote speaker on a panel about student-athlete mental health at Butler University.
The free event, which is being hosted in partnership with Indianapolis-based online therapy provider Preventia Group, is at 8 pm. Monday, Jan. 29, at Hinkle Fieldhouse. It’s open to the public, though participants are encouraged to register online. Participants can also attend virtually.
Other speakers include Mark Campbell, who was previously the director of mental conditioning for the 2019 World Series champion Washington Nationals, and Preventia Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mark Pettus.
Wickens won Rookie of the Year at the 2018 Indy 500 but was paralyzed from the waist down later that year in a racing accident. He eventually returned to the sport, driving with hand controls, and has said he aims to drive in the Indy 500 again.
“The summit exemplifies Butler’s ongoing commitment to bolstering our students’ holistic well-being through education and resources,” Frank Ross, Butler’s vice president for student affairs, said in a news release. “It is an important addition to the comprehensive support we provide to meet the needs of student-athletes.”
Panelists will discuss sleep, nutrition, recovering from injuries and performance anxiety, in addition to the unique uncertainties college seniors face.
Mental health is a major concern for college students in the U.S. In a spring report from the American College Health Association, nearly 75% of surveyed college students reported some level of psychological distress.
Butler offers 10 free hour-long Preventia sessions of therapy or mental conditioning — helping students overcome obstacles — to all students.
Butler students can sign into Preventia using a university email address and password here.
Claire Rafford covers higher education in partnership with Open Campus.
Got a story about college student mental health? Contact Claire Rafford at claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org or follow her on Twitter/Instagram @clairerafford.
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