UCF Psychology Professor Leads Student Volunteers to Support Mental Health Initiative at Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games

The volunteer effort offered psychology and nursing students real-world mental health screening experience while providing vital mental health and wellness education to Special Olympics Florida athletes.

By: Ana G. Hidalgo | June 17, 2025

Dr. Megan Sherod, associate chair for academic programming and associate director of clinical training for the Clinical Psychology Master’s program in the UCF College of Sciences’ Department of Psychology, led a team of UCF graduate student volunteers from the psychology department and undergraduate volunteers from the College of Nursing to provide mental health screenings and mental health and wellness education to nearly 600 athletes during the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games at ESPN Wide World of Sports this past month.

Sherod serves as a volunteer clinic director for the Strong Minds program, one of eight within the Special Olympics’ Healthy Athletes initiative. Driven by a passion for helping people with disabilities, she welcomed the opportunity to volunteer her time to provide services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

This volunteer experience, under Sherod’s direction, brought together UCF nursing and psychology students who conducted a series of screenings to assess emotional and cognitive well-being and offered developmentally appropriate education on mental health and wellness.

“By involving student volunteers, particularly those in health professions, we’re preparing the next generation of providers to understand and support people with IDD,” says Jennifer Miller, director of health programs for Special Olympics Florida. “Special Olympics Florida connects clinical training with real-world impact, helping reduce stigma, expand access and build a more compassionate, capable healthcare workforce.”

To prepare for their respective roles, student volunteers first complete an online training program through Special Olympics, followed by a one- to two-hour session with Sherod prior to events. Meanwhile, clinic directors undergo a rigorous six-month training program through Special Olympics.

“Leveraging their education and training, students use verbal and visual prompts to assess how athletes are feeling,” Sherod says. “They also walk them through scenarios to evaluate problem-solving skills and coping techniques.”

 Following the initial mental health screening, athletes are invited to participate in five wellness stations, where they learn stress management techniques such as positive self-talk, deep breathing, stretching and identifying sources of support.

Occasionally, Sherod and her students identify athletes with symptoms requiring specialized care. In those cases, they refer athletes and their families to appropriate community providers.

With over 20 years of experience, Sherod has learned how crucial, yet often inaccessible, mental health services can be for people with disabilities.

“These kinds of services are frequently cost-prohibitive or simply unavailable to people who need them most,” she says. “That’s why accessibility is essential.”

While Strong Minds doesn’t replace comprehensive care, Sherod believes it fills critical gaps.

“Volunteer-based screenings like these offer a high-level snapshot of an athlete’s mental and emotional health and can improve both mental and physical health outcomes,” she says.

Miller adds that screenings have a tremendous impact, helping athletes overcome barriers to care, including a shortage of trained providers.

“Our screenings not only identify undiagnosed or untreated conditions such hearing loss, dental issues, or vision problems, but also allow athletes to feel seen, respected, and cared for in a supportive environment,” Miller says. “For many, it’s their first positive experience with health professionals and that can lead to long-term trust in the healthcare system and improved health outcomes.”

Sherod says she finds personal and professional fulfillment in participating in this initiative. Her journey with Special Olympics began at a young age, thanks to a lifelong friend.

“My friend Melinda, whom I’ve known since I was 12, was a Special Olympics athlete with Down syndrome and she introduced me to Special Olympics,” Sherod says. “That experience sparked my passion for supporting people of all ages and abilities, and for building adaptive services tailored to their needs.”

For Sherod, Strong Minds helps bridge the gap in mental healthcare access and provides meaningful support in a system where being differently-abled is cost-prohibitive.

Sessions can be emotionally challenging for some athletes. Sherod recalled one case involving a psychology student and a grieving athlete.

“I was called over to assist a student who worked with a woman who began crying during her participation at the Strong Minds station,” Sherod says. “She shared with me that her partner had passed away just a few weeks earlier and so we took time to process her grief together.”

By the end of her visit, Sherod says the athlete was smiling and laughing with volunteers and dedicated her medals to her late partner—a moment that captured the impact of Strong Minds.

“Families often express their gratitude,” Sherod added. “We’ve even had some athletes return a second and third time to go through the activities again.”

After completing the stations, athletes participate in a post-assessment, reflecting on which activities they enjoyed and plan to use in the future. They are also given visual reminders to help them apply what they have learned at home.

“We’re empowering athletes to take charge of their health while helping shape a healthcare system that sees and values them,” Miller says. “The passion and commitment from our volunteers, students, and clinical partners is truly inspiring.”

Sherod says that for UCF student volunteers, the experience is both educational and deeply meaningful, giving students insight into the unique challenges that differently-abled individuals face—knowledge they will carry into their future careers.

“Everyone walks away impacted—whether you’re the athlete receiving a new pair of glasses or the student discovering a lifelong calling,” Miller says. “It’s a powerful reminder that everyone deserves the chance to live a healthy, supported life.”

Even without a healthcare background, Sherod emphasized the difference that volunteers can make. “There are countless ways to get involved with Special Olympics,” she says. “Whether you’re a student, faculty, or community member, you can use your time and talents to build community and make an impact.”