ABSTRACT
The State of Mind Ireland (SOMI) programme is a response to the paucity of programmes that are evidence and theory-based to enhance mental health awareness of student athletes. This chapter discusses the process followed in developing, recruiting, delivering, and evaluating the SOMI mental health and awareness programme to student athletes. It describes the content of the programme and the views of the athletes not published, and demonstrates how to integrate psychological theory of behaviour change into the design of a mental health awareness programme for student athletes. The chapter demonstrates that the SOMI programme has played a significant part in promoting positive mental health messages, specifically with student athletes. Participants recalled the following parts of the programme as effective: Mental fitness is a less stigmatising term than Mental Health; The five actions for improving mental health; and The video content of mental health experiences of an athlete.
