Black Hills State University athletics has partnered with Champion's Mind in order to improve the mental health of all student-athletes at BHSU.

The hefty workload student-athletes typically have to balance has been made even more difficult with the stresses and uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It was challenging," said senior football student-athlete, Jake Basinger. "It was hard not being around teammates. We do everything together, and trying to do class, workouts, and be social without them was a drag. Everything I did was all personal and introspective since I had to do it alone."

BHSU is now working with world-class sports psychologist Dr. Jim Afremow through the Champion's Mind mental health app he created alongside CEO Dave Kearney to provide this new resource to student-athletes and coaches across all sports.

"We are very excited to have Jim Afremow and Dave Kearney's expertise to deliver a world-class mental skills training program and mental health support for our student-athletes and coaches during these challenging times," said BHSU Athletic Director Jhett Albers.

Afremow has worked with high school, collegiate and professional athletes at all levels for over 20 years, including time with Michigan State, Arizona State and the San Francisco Giants.

A member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, American Counseling Association, and Arizona Psychoanalytic Society, Afremow has worked with athletes in the MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, UFC and NCAA, as well as several U.S. and International Olympic competitors.

"BHSU respects, values, and supports all students and staff, and as such, we're thrilled about this partnership," Afremow said. "Our mission is to provide world-class mental skills and strategies that can help the Yellow Jackets – student-athletes and coaches – mentally prepare for competition, improve practice or training focus and efficiency, overcome fears and mental blocks, and return to sport after injury with confidence."

The app itself consists of a 12-module course that can be listened to on the go for each student-athlete at their own pace.

"Mental skills training doesn't have to be time-consuming or complicated, but it needs to be a priority," said Afremow.

The course also provides motivational assistance and affirmations throughout the day to help improve the user's mental state.

Although the app has helped numerous athletes, this partnership is the first of its kind in which Champion's Mind is being implemented within an entire institution's athletic department.

"Every successful athlete knows that having superior mental toughness is what makes the difference when two closely matched teams collide," said Kearney. "That's why we're delighted to be working with BHSU to provide a complete mental skills training program for all their athletes - the first program of its kind to be delivered anywhere in the world."

BHSU is able to provide this one-of-a-kind program for its student-athletes thanks to financial assistance from the RMAC.

"Now, when a BHSU athlete takes to the field, they will know that even if they aren't the biggest or strongest team on the day, they will always be the mentally toughest team competing," Kearney added. "And that will make a difference."

While the department-wide partnership is newly implemented, Basinger has been using the Champion's Mind app since May of 2020.

"I've definitely turned a corner as an athlete using the app," said Basinger. "I benefit from it every day both on and off the field and have a better attitude and better performance. It's a new chapter in being an athlete. It's at tool I swear by and something I wish I could have used as a freshman."

BHSU athletics has been providing access to the Champion's Mind app to all student-athletes and coaches now for two weeks as it continues to commit to the well-being and success of it's student-athletes and coaches.