CCAA Set to Welcome Mental Health Empowerment Speaker Ivy Watts
The CCAA is pleased to announce a partnership with mental health empowerment speaker Ivy Watts to support our student-athletes, coaches, administrators and support staff in navigating the topic of mental health during a worldwide pandemic.
A former Division II student-athlete, Watts appeared to have it all together, graduating Summa Cum Laude from New Haven as a top 30 finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award in 2017. But on the inside, the sprinter struggled daily with anxiety, self-worth and depression.
After finally seeking help, Watts completed her Master’s in Public Health from Boston University in 2017 and embarked on a journey to share her story to promote mental wellness and reduce stigma around mental illness in collegiate athletics.
"We are thrilled to have Ivy Watts speak to our SAAC leaders this week, and to CCAA coaches, administrators and staff later in the month,” CCAA commissioner Mitch Cox noted. “Ivy brings with her the personal experience that our student-athletes will be able to relate to and will help our institutions identify and address issues of mental health among our student-athletes."
These sessions will complement the Division II National SAAC’s
2020 goals of supporting a “Total Package Student-Athlete” as the committee continues a focus to promote a state of total health and well-being for all student-athletes, both physical and mental.
Watts uses her speaking platform and her blog,
Beautifully Simply You, to empower others to speak their truths, know that they are not alone, learn the beauty of self-love and find strength to keep fighting for their tomorrows. Watts is slated to host two sessions for the CCAA, first connecting with the student-athletes from each member institution on managing anxiety, dealing with loss of connection or identity in a world without sports and finding the positives during a time of uncertainty. Watts will also host a session for coaches and administrators to discuss methods to engage, empower and support their student-athletes who may be struggling in the current climate.
"Student-athletes, coaches and athletic staff have lost so much in such a short amount of time due to COVID,” she explained. “Not only has the loss of yet another season of sports caused anxiety, frustration and uncertainty, several are also struggling with loss of belonging and connection, and even a sense of identity. In addition to the anxiety and uncertainty caused by COVID, the continuous moments of racial injustice have added another layer of stress and anxiety for many of us.
“As a Black female, who struggled with my mental health as a student-athlete, I am grateful to be able to share my message of hope and positivity with CCAA student-athletes and staff during these difficult times. My goal is to provide the CCAA community with mental wellness tools so that they remember that it is okay to not be okay, that they are not alone, and that although this time is difficult, they will build in resiliency that will allow them to be stronger and more prepared than ever for future unfortunate events. Thank you to the CCAA for hosting these important discussions, they are needed now more than ever. "
Watts has empowered over 10,000 people across the country, presenting to a wide audience across all levels of prep and intercollegiate athletics in all three divisions of the NCAA, including an engagement at the NCAA Coaches Identity Workshop.
ABOUT THE CCAA
The California Collegiate Athletic Association has been the nation's most successful Division II intercollegiate athletic conference since its establishment in December 1938. The 12-member league is home to some of the nation's finest NCAA Division II athletic programs in Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State East Bay, Cal State LA, Cal State Monterey Bay, Cal State San Bernardino, Cal State San Marcos, Cal Poly Pomona, Chico State, Humboldt State, San Francisco State, Sonoma State, and Stanislaus State. CCAA members have won 154 NCAA Championships (102 men, 52 women) all time, in team competition. In 2019, the Cal State San Bernardino volleyball brought home the national title, and Jaime Jacob earned the individual crown in women's golf for Cal State San Marcos.
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