National Harbor, MD – Kaitlin Leach, a dedicated advocate for student-athlete well-being and mental health, was selected to serve as a facilitator of Mental Health First Aid for the National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) during the annual NCAA Convention held from January 13-16, 2026, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based training program designed to teach individuals how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health or substance use challenges. Similar to physical CPR, it provides the skills needed to offer initial support to someone in distress until professional help can be reached.
 

Leach guided discussions among student-athlete leaders from Division III focusing on mental health and well-being. Participants were trained to use a five-step action plan known as ALGEE to assist someone in a non-crisis or crisis situation.

"Facilitating discussions around mental health with national SAAC was an incredibly rewarding experience," said Leach. "The student-athletes' passion for creating positive change within their institution and communities is truly inspiring. We focused on areas of recognition and assessment skill building, communication and interaction skills, practical intervention, referral and connection resources, and self-help and self-care."
 

"My goal as a facilitator was to empower these young leaders to understand their impact and the mechanisms available to help someone they know, who may be experiencing a mental health challenge," added Leach. "Seeing them collaborate, brainstorm and share their ideas reinforced how critical this training is."
 

Beyond practical steps, the training fosters mental health literacy by teaching the recognition of early signs for conditions like anxiety, depression, and psychosis while emphasizing the importance of de-escalating crises such as panic attacks or suicidal ideation. Ultimately, MHFA serves as a vital bridge to professional care, empowering non-professionals to offer initial support with confidence and empathy until further treatment can be obtained.

"I am grateful to Louise McCleary, the Vice President of NCAA Division III, and Ali Spungen, Associate Director of Division III for Governance and Member Services, for inviting me to participate in this important training, and for being instrumental in creating this partnership with Mental Health First Aid for all Division III members," Leach stated.

The 2022 NCAA Coach Well-Being Study underscored the need for expanded mental health support in college athletics. More than 80% of coaches reported spending increased time addressing mental health concerns with their student-athletes compared with prepandemic levels, and many identified mental health as the top issue facing their teams. These findings reinforced the importance of MHFA training as a timely and valuable resource for Division III coaches and athletic trainers. As of late July, 66 Division III institutions have completed the MHFA training and many more have been trained since.

NCAA Division III schools are eligible to receive one fully funded training. Through this program, up to 30 individuals at each active Division III school are eligible to participate in an in-person training with expert MHFA instructors on their campus. Upon completion, participants will be certified in MHFA for Higher Education for three years.

In addition to the MHFA training, National SAAC members participated in educational sessions, observed the legislative process, and engaged with NCAA leadership, including NCAA President Charlie Baker during the NCAA Convention.