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    • Mental Health in Baseball with Dr. Tess Palmateer

    Guest: Dr. Tess Palmateer, Mental Health Coordinator at New York Mets

    Hosts: Dr. Mark Allen & Dr. Tommy Horn

    Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health struggles. If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (U.S.).

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    AI SUMMARY

    Episode Overview

    Mental health in professional baseball - and across collegiate athletics - is being reshaped by universal screening, NIL pressures, and the embedded clinician model. In this episode of the Peak Sports Psychiatry Podcast, Drs. Mark Allen and Tommy Horn sit down with Dr. Tess Palmateer, Mental Health Coordinator for the New York Mets. Tess shares her path from collegiate volleyball player to pioneering athlete mental health support in both college sports and the pros. We discuss how universal screening reduces stigma, why athletic trainers are essential mental health allies, the unique pressures of NIL and social media on student-athletes, and what sustaining college athlete mental health looks like across the transition to a 162-game MLB season.

    Key Takeaways

  • • Universal Screening Normalizes Mental Health: Implementing mental health screenings for all athletes removes stigma and encourages help-seeking behavior.
  • • Athletic Trainers Are Key Allies: Their trusted relationships with athletes make them essential partners in mental health support.
  • • NIL and Social Media Add New Pressures: Student-athletes face unique challenges balancing athletic performance with personal brand management.
  • • Professional Sports Require Sustained Care: Supporting athletes through a 162-game season demands proactive, ongoing mental health strategies.
  • • From Collegiate to Pro: The transition shows how mental health support can scale and adapt across different levels of sport.

    • Show Notes

    About Dr. Tess Palmateer

    Dr. Tess Palmateer is Mental Health Coordinator at New York Mets.

    Topics Discussed

  • • Tess's journey from collegiate athlete to mental health professional
  • • Implementation of universal mental health screening programs
  • • The role of athletic trainers in mental health support systems
  • • Challenges of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals and social media
  • • Mental health support across a 162-game MLB season
  • • Differences between collegiate and professional sports mental health care
  • • Reducing stigma through normalized mental health conversations

    • Resources Mentioned

  • • New York Mets
  • • NCAA Mental Health Best Practices
  • • NATA Mental Health Resources

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