The life of a student-athlete is a constant teeter-totter between preparation for the next big game and ensuring the mind is sharp for an exam or quiz. Repetition of exercise, proper nutrition and strategizing, mixed with hours spent studying and rehearsing in hopes of achieving the best grades possible, makes for a very delicate balance.
 
Student-athletes must prime themselves for hard work in the classroom and on the field. How they approach both facets of their lives here at UMass Lowell are similar in that each requires attention to detail and dedication.
 
With the pressures of maintaining this balance, it is easy for student-athletes to feel overwhelmed, which can negatively impact their mental and physical health and performance.
 
For this reason, the UMass Lowell Athletics Department has put an emphasis on the importance of holistic health, focusing on the practices of healing body and mind as one whole entity. It is the hope of the department that this may be a resource to student-athletes, supporting their endeavors as both a college student and an athlete more fully beyond that of physical injury.
 
"Here at UMass Lowell, we talk a lot about the overall student-athlete experience and building the complete student-athlete," explained Director of Athletics Peter Casey. "Our River Hawks are giving everything they have, both on and off the field, every day, and it is our duty to provide care and support for them entirely, even beyond their athletic activities."
 
Holistic health takes aim at nurturing an individual through focus on the whole spectrum of health rather than separate components. It addresses nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress management, while examining cognitive behaviors. This approach doesn't cure patients the way traditional medicine does, though it can work in cooperation with medication and treatment in order to achieve optimal health.
 
With this goal in mind, UMass Lowell Athletics has hired David Kells as Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Counseling Services, a newly created position in the department. Kells received his a master's degree in social work at Smith's College of Social Work, and another in teaching at the University of Vermont. He previously worked at Saint Michael's College and New England College where he provided outreach and counseling to athletics personnel.
 
"We've been determined to continue to expand our healthcare network to incorporate a holistic approach for our student-athletes since I started at UMass Lowell," said Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Medicine and Performance Lainie Williams. "The Assistant Director for Student Athlete Counseling Services position is a big piece we've been working on for years and having David Kells here to help support our student-athletes will be a game changer."
 
Embracing this initiative also takes understanding. Studies show that today's youth are experiencing higher levels of stress and fatigue, as well as poor nutritional habits, and inadequate personal care routines. These are all a result of lack of emphasis on self-care. By identifying flaws in physical, social, emotional, spiritual and intellectual health habits, adjustments can be made to lead to a better quality of life.
 
To combat the ineffective habits, a holistic health approach offers student-athletes various forms of therapeutic methods from nutrition to yoga to counseling, and of course, physical rehabilitation.
 
"I am very pleased and honored to be UMass Lowell's first counselor dedicated to serving student-athletes," commented Kells. "I understand that in addition to being human and facing all of the challenges that every student faces, there are also the additional pressures of being a Division I athlete.  I am here to listen, to help them determine what is getting in the way of their success, and to help them create a plan and approach so they can thrive."
 
Since implementing this new role and resource, student-athletes can feel free to take advantage of the option for additional assistance whenever they need it. Senior field hockey midfielder Lindsey Kilpatrick (Manlius, N.Y.) expressed her enthusiasm about Kells now being on staff.
 
"We as student-athletes are beyond excited to welcome David to the River Hawk community," Kilpatrick said. "Student-athletes, especially at the Division I level, face an immense amount of rigor and pressure day-to-day. It is important that we, as an athletic community, prioritize mental health as much as we do physical. It must not be overlooked that mental well-being is integral to the success of student-athletes."
 
Dietary needs of the student-athletes has also become a tenant for River Hawk Athletics in this holistic approach, with the work of registered dietician Melissa Quirk of UMass Lowell Dining Services at the forefront. Eating healthy is not just knowing how much or what to eat, it's when and how you prepare those meals. Quirk also aims to teach students to think beyond what's on the plate in front of them.
 
"Using a holistic approach when working with athletes means understanding and addressing barriers to behavior change and respecting individual differences," Quirk commented. "Treatment focuses not just on what and when to eat, but addresses challenges with food preparation and food access, acknowledges food preferences and cultural practices around food, and addresses harmful beliefs about food and associated 'food rules.'"
 
The holistic health initiative is not confined to just athletics, but rather being embraced by UMass Lowell as an entire community. Brenda Evans, UMass Lowell Dean of Student Affairs and Wellness, explained that the university is positioning itself to take a multidimensional approach to student care across campus.
 
"We are really striving to shine a light on the overall wellbeing of our entire student population here at UMass Lowell," explained Evans. "From taking steps to provide financial literacy education to encouraging healthy eating habits, and all the dimensions of wellness in between, our long-term vision is to make holistic health and the wellbeing of our students an ongoing conversation. We need to continue to be proactive and utilize all of our partnerships throughout the campus."
 
To this end, UMass Lowell recently announced the creation of the office of student life and wellbeing. This office will aim to promote holistic elements in caring for students, work with campus leadership to implement strategies prioritizing wellbeing, and collaborate with partners on campus and beyond to gain feedback on the impact and progress of these approaches.
 
While the stressors of being a student-athlete are constant and evolving, it is clear that UMass Lowell is on a mission to provide all the support necessary to set its River Hawks on a path to success on the field of play, in the classroom and beyond.