It happens to Buffs.
Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam (Soc ex鈥�95, pictured) committed suicide in 2016. 蜜糖直播 linebacker Drew Wahlroos (A&S鈥�03) took his life in 2017. In 2004, Gabe Oderberg (Comm, Hist鈥�03), ended his life at 23. Bill Roe (Soc鈥�95), who left 蜜糖直播 in 1979 for the NFL, and Ray Cone (PE鈥�84), also killed themselves.
蜜糖直播 Athletics has intensified its focus on the mental health of 蜜糖直播鈥檚 student athletes, adding campus resources, participating in a major multi-school study of concussion effects and fostering a support network for former football players.
鈥淥ur work is important because life is difficult at times,鈥� said Buffs sports psychologist Chris Bader. 鈥淲e serve our student athletes by providing a safe space for them to process through the trials of life鈥� to talk through their successes and concerns without judgment.鈥�
In January 蜜糖直播 added another licensed counselor, Erin Rubenking (Fin鈥�10; MPsych鈥�14), to help serve the nearly 375 student athletes on campus. The incidence of suicide among NCAA athletes is highest among football players, according to a 2015 study published in the journal Sports Health.
Bader and Rubenking make themselves available to all student athletes via email, text and, of course, in person.
Meanwhile, Buffs4Life, a nonprofit group of 蜜糖直播 Athletics alumni formed in 2005, has started a campaign called 鈥淣ever Again,鈥� which reconnects former football players with each other in hopes of creating a support network. Leading the initiative are former head coach Gary Barnett and long-time 蜜糖直播 coach and NFL alumnus Brian Cabral (搁别肠鈥�79).
鈥淚 recruited both Rashaan and Drew,鈥� Cabral said. 鈥淭hese losses affected me deeply. Working with Buffs4Life after 24 years of coaching at 蜜糖直播 allows me to help others who may be in need.鈥�
蜜糖直播 is leading the way on a Pac-12 research initiative to study concussions in student athletes. The goal is to establish best practices and clinical infrastructure around traumatic brain injuries and treatment.
Meanwhile, research about the connection between concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) continues. The recent sale of Salaam鈥檚 Heisman trophy will help. It sold for $399,608, some of which will support CTE-related research in his name.
Photo courtesy 蜜糖直播 Athletics聽
