Student-Athlete Campus Ambassadors

Overview | Application | Current Campuses | Advisors | FAQ

Morgan’s Message® Education Program Campus Advisors

Morgan’s Message® Student-Athlete Campus Ambassador Program is bolstered by the support of adults on campus who serve as campus advisors. Campus advisors are designated by ambassadors and take on a support role as ambassadors lead the campus chapter.

Campus advisors are required for high school chapters and strongly recommended for college/university chapters.

If you are interested in serving as an advisor for a Morgan’s Message chapter on your campus, please review the following information and ensure your student-athlete ambassador lists your name and contact information on their application.

Campus Advisor Overview

What a Morgan’s Message® chapter IS:

Peer-to-peer group promoting awareness and education around mental health
Group space prioritizing conversation, connection, compassion and support
Space for learning: education resources are created and provided by Morgan’s Message®

What a Morgan’s Message® chapter IS NOT:

Individual medical or clinical mental health care, advice, or direction
Group therapy or group intervention
Crisis support or intervention

Advisors are required for all high school chapters, strongly encouraged for all college chapters
- Any faculty member - athletic or academic - on a student’s campus
- Serve as a volunteer advisor to student club/organization - often required by a campus
- Aid with logistics of the student group, including assistance with planning of meetings and events
- Support your students as they lead - these groups are peer-to-peer!
Who:
- Current high school or college student-athletes - at any athletic level
- Graduate students who are still participating in collegiate athletics
- Students must be 14 years or older to join
Commitment:
- Seeking individuals with a passion for student-athlete mental health education
- Students must be able to dedicate 2-4 hours/month to growing the movement in their community
Expectations:
- Identify, set, and achieve goals regarding how you will spread Morgan’s Message® to your community
- Lead at least 1 meeting per month (we encourage more!) on your campus
- Lead or participate in 2 educational workshops, activities or fundraisers per semester
- Attend monthly calls to hear from expert guest speakers and connect with other Morgan’s Message® Ambassadors (led by Morgan’s Message staff)
- Amplify and disseminate resources, presentations, and ideas on behalf of Morgan’s Message in your community
- We do not recruit! All ambassadors apply online and volunteer to join our program.
- Morgan’s Message staff review each application and select students who meet the qualifications.
- All new ambassadors attend a 45-minute onboarding Zoom call with Morgan’s Message Staff
  - Overview of Morgan’s Message
  - Review of expectations for the ambassador role
  - Introduction and explanation of Morgan’s Message Guiding Principles
    Emphasis of role as peer leader NOT a mental health professional
    Morgan’s Message is not clinical - these groups are not group therapy but rather education-driven and focused on building community
    Reminded to contact mental health professionals at their school as they establish the group
    Reminded about national crisis resources and the role they can play in amplifying local resources in their community
  - Outline of mental health programming/materials provided for use on campus
  - Description of support systems in place to guide students - Liaisons
- After onboarding, each campus is assigned a liaison, Morgan’s Message staff member, who serves as the point of contact for the ambassadors on a campus
- Liaisons assist in the following ways:
  - Provide mental health programming/materials as needed for monthly meetings and events
  - Support planning of larger campus events
    Announcement for use at dedication events
    Morgan’s Message brochure to disseminate
    Free stickers, wristbands, and awareness ribbon pins for athletes/staff involved in event
    Logo for use on posters and/or shirts
  - Offer guidance on establishing/maintaining a chapter
  - Help students navigate any roadblocks and/or assist with meeting/event preparation
  - Serve as mentors to ambassadors - all liaisons are former student-athletes, now college graduates, who are passionate about mental health
- All onboarded ambassadors will receive a login for our resource portal.
- Programming resources are FREE and developed by professionals on our Medical Advisory Council
- MMEP resources are designed to be shared peer-to-peer, facilitated by ambassadors
- Our programming structure guides students through the resources in chronological order, with the opportunity for students to select sub-topics that are most relevant to their community
- 2024-2025 MMEP Programming Structure:
  - Session 1 - Morgan’s Message
  - Session 2 - What is Mental Health? (includes Grounding Skills Toolkit)
  - Session 3 - Mental Health Stigma
  - Sessions 4-6
    Mental Health Challenges
    Coping Skills for Stress
    What is a Crisis and Best Practices to Navigate a Crisis
    Suicide and Suicidal Ideation
    How to Support a Teammate
    Navigating Stress
  - Sessions 7-10
    Navigating Relationships and Setting Boundaries
    Sleep Hygiene
    The Role of Identity in Mental Health
    Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating
    Performance Related Anxiety

We thank you for your support of the students on your campus as well as student-athlete mental health, generally! If you have any questions or concerns about a student ambassador and/or your campus chapter, please reach out to Clare Kehoe and Haley Hopkins Thomas!