Catholic University of America

At Catholic University, we are committed to prioritizing mental well-being, particularly within Athletics. Our goal is to make mental health services accessible to every student-athlete while fostering a supportive environment in which no one feels alone. We have established a variety of clubs to ensure our student-athletes feel supported, valued, and recognized through both their successes and challenges.

Card’s Care 

Card’s Care is a student-led mental health initiative focused on ending the stigma surrounding mental health within athletics. Founded by former senior captain Malachi Hansen, this initiative provides resources, peer support, and engaging activities designed to help student-athletes maximize their mental well-being. Student-athlete leaders host weekly peer support groups, share valuable resources, and organize a variety of events. Members of Card’s Care come together each athletic season to share their stories and experiences through panel discussions which have received great feedback from our student-athletes. Some of the events we have hosted include suicide prevention training in partnership with the Green Bandana Project, where we also created mental health-themed t-shirts to help fund the program. Last year, we held our first Cardinal Carnival, designed to bring student-athletes together to play games, hear from a sports psychologist, and participate in an interactive 5K!

One Love 

The One Love Chapter at Catholic is a student-led organization dedicated to promoting healthy relationships and preventing relationship violence through education, awareness, and peer engagement. Our chapter is rooted in the One Love Foundation’s mission and we want to provide students with the proper resources and programming that empowers them to recognize the signs of unhealthy and healthy relationships. Student leaders facilitate workshops and lead discussions to engage students in open conversations about respect, communication, and consent. Members of our chapter help create a supportive and empowering student community here at Catholic and encourage safe and healthy relationships on campus. 

Morgan’s Message 

Morgan’s Message’s mission is to amplify stories, resources and expertise to strengthen student-athlete mental health, build a community by and for athletes through peer-to-peer conversations and provide a platform for advocacy. At Catholic, peers host monthly meetings and events aiming to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health along with normalizing the conversation. Throughout the year we host many Morgan’s Message dedication games in order to bring awareness to the issue and empower those who suffer in silence.