TMS THERAPY
FDA-cleared, non-medication depression treatment
Why NFL’s First In-House Mental Health Professional Is So Important
Daniel Hageman
Tish Guerin, on staff for the Carolina Panthers, is leading the way as the first mental health professional to round out a National Football League team’s usual staff of general physicians, nutritionists, trainers, and other specialists. While other NFL teams have been known to outsource mental health specialists when needed, the shift of many major sports leagues and college athletics to in-house professionals is one necessary for the structure of athletic culture and life.
Tish Guerin, on staff for the Carolina Panthers, is leading the way as the first mental health professional to round out a National Football League team’s usual staff of general physicians, nutritionists, trainers, and other specialists. Guerin (MSW, LCSW, LISW-CP, DCC) is from Charlotte, NC with psychology and sociology undergraduate degrees from Winston-Salem State and a master’s in social work from the University of South Carolina. She began in this position in September 2018, and former Panthers Director of Player Engagement Mark Carrier says, “It’s just invaluable what she will bring to this organization.” While other NFL teams have been known to outsource mental health specialists when needed, the shift of many major sports leagues and college athletics to in-house professionals is one necessary for the structure of athletic culture and life.
Tish Guerin, 35, is the first on-staff mental health physician for an NFL team; She comes to the Carolina Panthers after
team members and coach advocated for the value of adding a mental health professional to current medical staff.
Photo from Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez/Carolina Panthers
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has already begun to lead by example – in 2016, mental health professionals were incorporated into 39% percent of Division I athletic departments, with more teams adding this much needed resource to their staff in the following years. However, with Virginia Tech adding its first in-house mental health professional in 2000 , we can see just how slow-moving the process to seriously consider the risks to athletes’ mental health is.
With training, nutritional advisement, coaching sessions, and even academic tutoring all in one place, leaving the building or campus to access mental health resources can be as disconnected emotionally as it is physically. Asking for help, or needing a break from a highly-regimented schedule, is something that can feel unthinkable. UCLA Volleyball Starter Victoria Garrick shared in her TEDx Talk on Althetes , “I remember times during water breaks I would run to the bathroom and just sob because for five seconds I wanted my day to just stop.”
Disconnected care, whether it be separate health facilities or outsourced mental health providers, can create a culture where athletes feel their mental health issues are stigmatized and neglected, especially in comparison to their physical or academic problems. That’s why teams who have mental health professionals on their staff like Towson University are helping in “changing the narrative by creating a culture where seeking care for mental health issues is as normative as receiving treatment for physical injuries.”
Creating this culture of care is especially important since the highest rate of suicide occurred in football, according a study published in 2015 on NCAA athletes . Guerin told NPR, “Football, in general - just because of the schedules, the demands, the constant changes in terms of you never know if you're going to be traded or if you're just entering the league or if you're getting ready to work through, you know, retirement. There are just a lot of variables that go into the sport in general. And long term, that can definitely take a toll.” And from collegiate football, the stress of a major league like the NFL can be a steep hill.
Dealing with life’s peaks and pitfalls as well as football’s high-stress, ever-changing variables is complicated by a hypermasculine culture of silence. Carolina Panthers receiver Torrey Smith said , “We are often told as young men… it’s weak to show emotion, and to just get over it... As men, it’s something where we don’t like to talk to people about our issues because we come off as insecure. Weak.”
There are more players like Torrey Smith coming out to discuss mental health every day, from college players to major division sports. Mental health professionals like Guerin are choosing to seek out athletic teams to join, and coaches are advocating for their teams to include mental health professionals like her. By battling this stigma they are making huge strides toward changing athletic culture, and how we approach our overall health in general, for the better.
Let's see if we might be a good fit
Take our 6 question quiz to see if TMS therapy could be right for you
Share this post
We're Better Together
Subscribe for mental health, self-care, and TMS therapy updates for those affected by treatment-resistant depression or OCD.
Contact Us
By providing your email address, you are consenting to receive blog updates from Greenbrook TMS Inc. You may unsubscribe from these alerts at any time by following the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of email alerts. At Greenbrook TMS Inc. we take the privacy and security of your personal information seriously. To learn more about how we protect your personal information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
You might also like
You may feel isolated and alone when you have clinical depression, and depression also affects your relationships with family and friends. While the primary focus of your treatment is to improve your mental health, it’s also essential to understand your loved ones may experience their own issues as they try to support you. An understanding of how depression affects relationships can help everyone maintain healthy connections and navigate problems. Here are some of the ways depression may affect the people in your support network.
Our free mental health calendar for 2023 includes mental health awareness events, holidays, self-care activities, and a monthly 30 second mental health checkup!
We’ve all heard the common health-related misconceptions or myths-- chocolate causes acne, carrots will improve your night vision, and cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis. Subscribing to these particular myths is relatively harmless, but other health-related misconceptions can have far more serious consequences. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. Because untreated depression can have a serious physical and psychological impact, it’s imperative to have the right information in order to make the best decisions for yourself and for your health. Here are 5 common misconceptions about depression, and the facts behind them:
Starting any medical treatment for the first time can leave you with questions, especially if you’re looking forward to the benefits it may bring. It’s no different when you’re preparing for your nasal esketamine treatment. Your previous mental health treatments may have consisted solely of taking antidepressants at home or visiting a therapist’s office for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), so nasal esketamine is probably a new treatment experience for you. If you're wondering what it's like to start nasal esketamine and get ready for your first session, keep reading. Getting Started with the Nasal Esketamine Treatment As with any new treatment, you’ll first talk to your primary care provider or psychiatrist about whether nasal esketamine is a good fit for you. Alternatively, you can schedule your esketamine nasal spray consultation with a treatment center (such as Greenbrook) that has certification by the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). At Greenbrook's REMS-certified nasal esketamine treatment centers, our Greenbrook-affiliated psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners will review your medical history and also conduct our own assessment to help determine whether nasal esketamine treatment is right for you. Certain conditions, including blood vessel disease and a history of psychosis, may make treatment a risk for you. Make sure you discuss all previous and present conditions with your doctor or nasal esketamine provider before beginning treatment. If the medication is deemed a good fit, you’ll receive your prescription from the Greenbrook-affiliated provider. Your Greenbrook Care Team will put together a personalized care plan for the weeks and months to follow. Keep in mind that you will need to take a standard (oral) antidepressant along with your nasal esketamine treatment. There are two important regulations to note when it comes to preparing for treatment: Each treatment is followed by a mandatory two-hour observation period. This means you will need to plan to stay at the center for at least two hours following your self-administration of the esketamine nasal spray. You cannot drive during the rest of the day after treatment and must arrange for transportation. These regulations are mandatory. It may be helpful to sit down and plan out several weeks’ worth of transportation once you know your treatment schedule. In addition, if you’re wondering what to bring for the treatment, we recommend entertainment such as an audiobook or playlist of favorite songs and a pair of headphones. You may want them during the two-hour observation period. What to Expect During Nasal Esketamine Treatment On the day of treatment, you’ll need to stop eating any food two hours before your appointment and stop drinking all fluids 30 minutes before you come in. Your Greenbrook Care Team will confirm that you are prepared for the two-hour observation period and that you have a ride home. You’ll get the opportunity to practice using a “trainer sprayer” that mimics the real nasal esketamine sprayer but does not release any medication. The Care Team will encourage you to use the restroom and set up your preferred environment in your private treatment bay or room. Some patients like reduced lighting, for example, while others don’t request light adjustments. You’ll complete a depression scale before each treatment session. Your Greenbrook provider will confirm that the dose kit is yours, show you how to administer it, and then hand it to you. Each sprayer contained 28mg of Spravato esketamine nasal spray. Patients usually start with two sprayers (56mg) and soon increase to 84mg (three sprayers) per treatment. But, your dosage maybe vary. Should you be left with a metallic taste by the spray, the Care Team will offer suckers to help make the flavor dissipate. After your dose, you’ll be encouraged to lie back in your comfortable recliner. While most patients enjoy a quiet setting, Greenbrook is prepared to accommodate patients with a more animated reaction to the medication. You may feel sleepy, dizzy, mildly dissociated, and/or nauseated during treatment. Greenbrook's Care Team is readily available if you need assistance. How to Prepare for after your Nasal Esketamine Treatment Most side effects begin to wane in the second hour of observation, but if you’re wondering, “Is it safe to drive immediately after nasal esketamine treatment?” the answer is a resounding no. In addition to the mandatory ride home, you will need to block off time to rest and let side effects fully dissipate. This extended rest period is especially important in the first weeks of treatment when you’ll have treatment twice a week. Do not drive or operate machinery of any kind until the day after treatment. Just take it easy, relax, and take care of yourself. If you’re unsure what activities you can do or should avoid during this time, talk to your Care Team for more information. While side effects tend to dissipate completely after a good night’s sleep, many nasal esketamine patients begin feeling relief from depression symptoms within hours of their treatment. Other Tips in Preparing for Your Nasal Esketamine Treatment At Greenbrook, we make every effort to schedule your treatment in the afternoons or whenever it is most convenient for you. We encourage you to see each treatment session as an opportunity to relax and take care of your mental health. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your doctor or the Greenbrook Care Team. At Greenbrook, we’ll help you feel at ease when preparing for each treatment session. Schedule A Free Consultation To get started with nasal esketamine, schedule your free consultation today.
Greenbrook TMS supports an accessible internet. If you have any questions about our accessibility features, please contact us at
866.928.6076 and/or info@greenbrooktms.com.
TMS THERAPY
RESOURCES
OUR COMPANY
