This lecture provides attendees with knowledge on the importance of recognizing signs and symptoms of potential emotional distress or an emerging mental health challenge, by assessing changes in behavior, thoughts, feelings, and appearance. Strategies on how to respond to a student athlete showing changes will include tips on how to have the conversation by reviewing examples of helpful and unhelpful approaches, supporting through non-judgmental listening, perception checking, providing reassurance and information, and connecting to professional and self- help resources. An overview of how to respond to a crisis will include de-escalation strategies and referral resources.