PROVIDENCE, R.I. –  The American Athletic Conference Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), representing the more than 7,000 student-athletes in the Conference, continues to make mental health and safety its top priority. With the inception of its Pow6rful Minds Campaign in the fall of 2017, The American SAAC has helped create awareness to mental health issues and the resources available for student-athletes. The definitive goal has been to end the stigma related to seeking help and promoting academic and personal success through a healthy, powerful mind.
 
The Conference’s second Mental Health Awareness Week of the 2018-19 school year will take place Feb. 25-March 3 with The American men’s and women’s basketball games highlighting the week-long initiative. The American Men’s and Women’s Swimming Diving championships, which will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, Feb. 27-March 2, also will be another featured event during the week.
 
Green, the color of mental health awareness nationally, has been seen by The American’s fans during designated athletic contests throughout the school year and the Conference’s #Pow6rfulMinds hashtag has been used prominently on all of its social media accounts.

 

During all men’s and women’s basketball contests next week, The American coaching staffs will wear specially designed green ribbon pins. The Conference also has produced PSAs featuring men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes that will be run in-venue during games.
 
“The American Athletic Conference’s SAAC is proud to represent our fellow student-athletes with this important initiative,” said Enna Selmanovic, a senior on the University of Cincinnati’s women’s swimming and diving team and vice chair of National SAAC.  “As our Pow6rful Minds Campaign enters its second year, we hope to continue to work toward eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health and promoting the resources on our campuses that encourage all students to become brave, disciplined and supportive. We want to continue to encourage those student-athletes to seek the care that they may need without judgement in an inclusive environment and in furthering their development of a healthy and powerful mind.”


 
ABOUT AMERICAN SAAC
The American SAAC serves as the voice of student-athletes who represent the Conference’s 13 member institutions. The mission of SAAC is to improve communication for all student-athletes at each member school as well as enhance communications between the institutions. SAAC takes an active role in understanding and providing feedback regarding NCAA and American legislations, and promotes student-athlete well-being, academic achievement, personal development and community service.