FAMU forms partnership to support student-athlete mental health

Special to the Outlook

 The mental health of FAMU student-athletes is now the focus of a partnership that the athletic department has formed with The Zone.

The Zone is a mobile app that monitors and improves the mental health of student-athletes. 

The partnership will promote the physical and mental wellness of FAMU’s student-athletes as a continued priority for the university. FAMU is one of seven universities around the country that currently use The Zone’s software within their athletic department.

Created by former student-athletes, The Zone’s innovative technology allows student-athletes to access wellness resources, easily communicate with campus staff, and track their mood. School administrators can access aggregate data and insights surrounding student-athlete wellness through a personalized dashboard, giving teams a unique understanding of what is happening within the athletic program while maintaining student privacy. 

Last year, 51 percent of student transfers were due to mental health-related issues. By using The Zone, FAMU can continue the commitment of creating a safe and supportive environment for student-athletes on campus. 

“We are excited to partner with The Zone because the mental health of student-athletes is of the utmost importance to FAMU Sports Medicine”, said Director of Sports Medicine Vincent Williams. “The Zone will allow the student-athletes to screen themselves daily to keep them in the best mental headspace with or without reaching out and utilizing people around them. They will be able to do it on their own time, which will become more efficient for them in the long run.”

The Zone made additional efforts to ensure the platform has significantly more content and support for student-athletes of marginalized communities. There is a significant need for student-athlete mental wellness and support. The Zone is partnering with many historically Black colleges and universities to give marginalized groups first access to this state-of-the-art mental wellness system. 

“We are thrilled to partner with Florida A&M and help their athletic program provide an innovative tool to support their student-athletes,” said Erik Poldroo, co-founder of The Zone. “The FAMU team has been adamant on the importance of mental wellness on campus, and we look forward to helping them achieve their program goals.”