Are you passionate about mental health and looking for a meaningful way to make a difference in the community? Special Olympics Colorado is hosting their State Flag Football competition on Saturday, November 2nd, at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, and they need your help!
Event Details:
The event includes a Strong Minds Screening, part of Special Olympics’ Healthy Athletes® program. This initiative offers free, supportive screenings in a fun and welcoming environment, aiming to reduce the anxiety often associated with medical visits for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). The goal is to improve the athletes’ overall health and fitness, which in turn enhances their sports performance and well-being.
What is Strong Minds?
Strong Minds is an interactive learning activity focused on helping athletes develop adaptive coping strategies to manage stress and maintain emotional wellness. The athletes are encouraged to use positive thinking, stress-releasing techniques, and social connection to navigate stressful situations, especially in the heat of competition. It’s a powerful way to empower these athletes with coping mechanisms they can use both on and off the field.
How You Can Help:
Special Olympics Colorado is seeking volunteers from 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM to assist with the Strong Minds Screening. Mental health professionals, students in the mental health field, or anyone passionate about supporting these athletes are welcome to volunteer. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a direct impact on the well-being of athletes while gaining valuable experience.
If you’re interested in volunteering, please sign up here: Volunteer Sign-Up
Note for Students: If you’re a student, please be sure to sign up under the “Students” option. If that spot is filled, feel free to sign up as a general volunteer or contact Jena Twete at jtwete@specialolympicsco.org to be placed on a waitlist.
Don’t miss out on this rewarding opportunity to contribute to the emotional wellness of Special Olympics athletes. Feel free to share this opportunity with friends, mental health professionals, or anyone who might be interested!
Let’s make this event a memorable and positive experience for all involved!
– E.M.
"Their entire team is FABULOUS. They have always treated me with dignity and respect. I have watched them with other clients as well and I see their genuine compassion for everyone that walks thru the door. I initially went to them because I moved to CO in late 2017 and they were the first place that had an opening. I needed a psychiatrist to keep me on my Rx. I was surprised when Dr Park spent more than 15 mins going over my past Rx history with me, as has been my experience for many years. Not only did we discuss Rx, he then spent another 45 mins talking to me as a counselor. I had never had a psychiatrist/counselor combo before and was amazed at how effective it is when your Dr hears more about what's going in your life than just the effects of your current Rx. This treatment model is not practiced by someone that doesn't care about his patients. He could offer the basics that most psychiatrists offer and still bill insurance the same amount but he wants his patients to succeed and is invested in their progress. He also doesn't believe in keeping someone in therapy forever. Even if it means less income for him, when you stabilize to the point that you have better things to do than spend 30 mins with him, it's a sign that you may be ready to engage in therapy less often and he will tell you that. Dr Park has been a life and marriage saver for me and he is amazingly efficient. He gets done in 1-2 sessions what would take 6 months for another counselor because he doesn't dance around the issues. To do this, he may be more blunt with you than you might have experienced before and that may be off putting to some. If you are ready to do the hard work to make your life enjoyable again, Dr Park is your man! He also got me hooked up with TMS. If you are someone that has struggled with depression for a long time and taken Rx that hasn't been effective, talk to someone about TMS. It's a game changer. It may sound like hokey fake science. It's not. It works and works fast. THANK YOU!"