Seminar focuses on athletes' mental health

Cassidy McLellan – Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) student athletes were invited to a mental health seminar on Tuesday in the auditorium.

The meeting featured a panel of coaches and current college athletes sharing their struggles with mental health.

The speakers included LRHS football coach Rashad West, Health Opportunities through Physical Education (HOPE) teacher Maggie Sharrer, head Junior Varsity (JV) football coach Tommy Cuervo, and strength and conditioning coach Andrew Shackelford.

The talk also featured Auburn track and field athlete Riley Simmons and University of Central Florida (UCF) football player Sam Jackson, both LRHS alumni.

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Athletic trainer Sydney Suppa and Sharrer were the coordinators of this event.

Suppa said, “In recent events of suicide within college athletics, as an athletic trainer I felt compelled to address the topic of mental health with our student athletes. I was extremely grateful to the individuals that were willing to share their experiences.”