Illinois State University student-athletes are getting access to round-the-clock health care services through the school’s recent partnership with OSF HealthCare. University and OSF officials announced at a news conference Thursday that students will gain free access to the OSF SilverCloud behavioral health app.
Through the app — which students can join at their own discretion — there will be a 24/7 chat function that will connect users in need with counselors. Other benefits of the app include exercises on mindfulness, journaling capabilities and anonymity.
ISU Athletics Medical Director Dr. Rob Siedl told WGLT in an exclusive interview after the news conference that he thinks the app has the potential to help break down barriers to care caused by mental health stigma.
“Many times these things might occur in the middle of the night, you know, three in the morning, and this provides immediate access appropriately in a very confidential, I think assuring way,” he said.
During the news conference, he said they have not yet fully explored how they will track athletes’ mental health and usage of the app. However, ISU and OSF are thinking of ways to market the app and encourage athletes to take advantage.
Athletics Director Jeri Beggs said the university already conducts annual surveys periodically to check in on athletes and has added mental health questions in recent years.
“We'll do the testing again, you know, the survey again in the spring, and we'll see what kind of results — was as there a change in terms of anxiety, stress, etc.?” she said. “So I think there's some unique research opportunities here.
Seidl told WGLT that if there becomes a situation where a student may be in a mental health crisis and they divulge via SilverCloud, steps such as finding a provider for the student and relaying the situation to proper channels will occur.
“But it's got to be done with appropriate HIPAA guidelines, etc. and confidential,” he said. “That's a very important part of it.”
The app, Seidl said, has a 94% success rate and favorability rating.
In addition to the app, students are also gaining the opportunity to use OSF’s 24/7 health care opportunities for their physical wellbeing.
Outside of health care needs, ISU and OSF are leveraging their research partnership to aid student athletes. Seidl mentioned during the press conference that he is excited to see more research related to athlete health.
He said other ISU departments like engineering and kinesiology can work with OSF.
“They can work directly on research projects, such as concussion management, medical product development, myocarditis, screening and even performance enhancement training to virtual reality,” he said.
Saturday marks ISU’s first at-home football game of the season. It’s also the first in which OSF will be on the sidelines as a university partner.
Beggs said this partnership helps with the day-to-day needs of the athletes.
She said this is particularly beneficial right now, as Athletics has to shift how it provides athletic training following an NCAA ruling to change education-level requirements. Trainers must have a graduate-level degree going forward.
“Their willingness to come alongside of us and help us with athletic training is imperative to providing good safe practices, safe rehabs, etc, for our student athletes,” she said.
