The BMS Project

STEP ONE: MENTAL HEALTH & SUICIDE PREVENTION ("988")

Our early step mental health educational services include how to identify and vet mental health therapists & counselors, pursue mental health assessment services, as well as how to respond to situations involving the threat of self-harm (“988”).  This section of our website is organized in the three sub-categories listed below.  

  • SELF-HARM WARNING SIGNS & CRISIS MANAGEMENT (“988”)
  • SELF-HELP MENTAL HEALTH TOPIC ARTICLES
  • OTHER ADVISORY SERVICES (FINANCIAL & LEGAL ADVICE, FACILITY ADMISSION CONSIDERATIONS)

How to Use Mental Health Services

Please scroll down below to find short summaries of the various topics for which we currently provide mental health education, resources, as well as other advisory suggestions.  Our menu of offerings will continue to evolve and expand over time.   The initial topics and situations presented below have been identified by The BMS Project’s mental health committee as representing issues that are likely to be experienced by young competitors and/or their families.

STEP ONE: SERVICES OVERVIEW

Our early step mental health educational services include how to identify and vet mental health therapists & counselors, pursue mental health assessment services; as well as the three sub categories listed below:

  • MENTAL HEALTH WARNING SIGNS & CRISIS MANAGEMENT
  • SELF-HELP RESOURCES AND MATERIALS
  • OTHER ADVISORY SERVICES (FINANCIAL & LEGAL ADVICE, FACILITY ADMISSION CONSIDERATIONS)

How to Use Step Two Mental Health Services:

Please scroll down below to find short summaries of the various topics for which we currently provide mental health educational assistance.  Our menu of offerings will continue to evolve and expand over time.   The initial topics selected were identified by The BMS Project’s mental health committee as representing issues that are likely to be experienced by young competitors and/or their families.

Please scroll down below to find short summaries of the various topics for which we currently provide mental health educational assistance.

STEP TWO: PRACTICAL MENTAL HEALTH ADVICE

Click on link below for the Community Outreach Program signup 

The three links provided in the blue circles below may prove helpful as you attempt to seek professional mental health assistance for yourself, an acquaintance, or a loved one.

The first circle/link below provides a general overview of a number of options that you may wish to consider when attempting to identify a mental health therapist/counselor.  The second circle/link is provided to assist you when vetting a professional therapist/counselor. The third circle/link takes you to a video interview conducted with Dr. Frick, a clinical psychologist, in which he describes in great detail how you might pursue having a comprehensive mental assessment evaluation conducted. Dr. Frick cautions in his interview that those seeking mental health assistance and/or an assessment should be cautious regarding the qualifications of their provider. Hopefully, the resources provided below will assist you in your quest to locate and secure qualified mental health therapeutic counseling, evaluation and assessment.

Please be further aware, as with many professional services within our society today that there can be substantial wait times involved – even months. Further, that when pursuing a full-fledged mental health assessment conducted by a clinical psychologist, the associated costs can be daunting for many in need. Some of the suggested paths to seek assistance may be quicker and less expensive than utilizing the services of a fully trained clinical psychologist; so please be sure to inquire early on in your quest for assistance about accessibility and the involved costs.  Also, please be aware that when utilizing online services, some online services have been reported to be sharing users’ private information.  Choose the path which you deem to be best for you personally or someone else that you are attempting to assist.

Please read the third party, professional assistance category descriptions below; then click on the respective circle(s)/link(s) to access informative resources to assist you as you seek third-party mental health care and assistance.

Clicking on the blue circles below will link you to resources to assist you in your quest to locate and secure qualified mental health therapeutic counseling, evaluation and assessment.

Please be aware, as with many professional services that there can be substantial wait times involved – even months. Further, that when pursuing a full-fledged mental health assessment conducted by a clinical psychologist, the associated costs can be daunting.  Accordingly, please inquire regarding accessibility and the involved costs. Then choose the path which you deem to be best for you personally.

To further assist you in accessing mental healthcare assistance please review the resources provided below then click on the associated link.  

Please read the self-help category descriptions below; then click on the respective links to access informative resources to assist you as you seek mental health care and assistance.

• WARNING SIGNS & CRISIS MANAGEMENT (“988”)

We must remain constantly sensitive and vigilant to what young competitors are feeling. If a young competitor exhibits behaviors and/or expresses thoughts of sadness or a sense of overwhelming hopelessness, these represent some of the warning signs that should trigger adult concern. In the link below please find information regarding: Crisis-What To Do, Immediate Help Talk Lines, Suicide Warning Signs, Mental Health Warning Signs.

MENTAL HEALTH TOPIC ARTICLES

To assist young people engaged in sports and competitive activities—and their families—we address a variety of mental health topics that may be encountered.  Self-help efforts can be conducted independently and/or in conjunction with professional mental health care assistance. We have subcategorized Self-Help Advice into “Help by Topic”.  Additional topics will periodically be added on an ongoing basis.

OTHER ADVISORY SERVICES

The links below provide information regarding financial/legal advice and medical/mental health facilities and admission considerations.  Dealing with the complexities of mental health-related matters can be daunting.  We attempt to provide simple, early step advice to assist in determining how to get started. Our library also provides additional resources that may be useful.

MENTAL HEALTH RELATED VIDEOS

The provide videos are intended to assist athletes and young people engaged in sports and competitive activities—as well as their families.  Through short interviews, we address a variety of mental health topics that may be encountered.  The various topic question and answers are intended to provide insights regarding mental health and well-being.  Additional videos will periodically be added on an ongoing basis.

STEP THREE: NEXT STEP RESOURCES

To further assist you in accessing mental healthcare assistance please review the resources provided below then click on the associated link.  

BOOKS, LINKS & OTHER
ON-SITE / OFF-SITE REFERENCE MATERIALS