Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide or is in mental distress, please contact the National SuicidePreventionLifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or. suicidepreventionlifeline.org..
Chapel Hill, North Carolina — The sun is shining on Boshammer Stadium instead of the clouds in the Carolina blue sky. As the teams line up outside the dugout, the music echoes throughout the concourse. Seen from a distance, it looks like a normal spring day in North Carolina Tar Heels baseball. Except for the golden tail peeking out of the Tar Heels lineup.
Meet Remington, the first exercise training room assistance dog at the Atlantic Coast Conference, as well as UNC. The official position of the Golden Retriever is a rehabilitation service dog at a psychiatric medical alert facility that works with Terry Jorsinsky, the head athletic trainer for the baseball team.
“Remington’s role is to be a person who calms people, makes them laugh, and makes rehab fun,” says Rusinsky. “He helps people torment. I think that’s his greatest role, and he just wants to make people laugh and smile when he’s having a bad day.”
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Duo Day begins at 7:45 am at the Physical Therapy Clinic. In the afternoon, Remi heads to the athlete training room at Boshammer Stadium to work with the athlete. He is not limited to baseball. Remi also supports many other sports teams such as lacrosse, soccer and gymnastics.
According to Rucinski, the training room provides a variety of assistance for athletes, such as opening and closing the refrigerator to drink, and taking the ball home while practicing throwing. But sometimes he just becomes a dog, senses when they need him while they are being treated, and climbs the bed with the player.
During his senior season in high school, UNC pitcher Dalton Pence blew his elbow and required Tommy John’s surgery. Remington was there when Pence received the news that his college career would be delayed.
“He was by my side, so just knowing that kind of thing eased my anxiety and stress a bit. [It] It comforted me, “says Pence. “There are a lot of mental disabilities that athletes have returned from serious injuries. He helped me get over some of them. I got a little. [back] Self-confidence by Remington. “
Courtesy of UNC Athletics
He is certainly not just a baseball dog. In fact, since arriving at UNC in the 2017 season, Remington’s role has expanded informally, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the mental health crisis that has plagued college campuses.
According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicides and attempted suicides surged between the ages of 12 and 25 during a pandemic, especially if a blockade was implemented. According to the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, suicide is ranked as the second most common cause. Cause of death between the ages of 15 and 34.
Today, the Chapel Hill community is struck by dark clouds of life lost last fall. Three UNC students committed suicide on campus, two died within 48 hours of the October weekend, and the university was urged to cancel classes in the mid-term to give students “Wellness Day.” ..
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Following the departure of Naomi Osaka and Simone Bills from their respective sports due to mental health in the spring and summer of 2021, Dr. Jeni Shannon, director of mental health and performance psychology at UNC, said on mental health and land. I’ve seen the dialogue about competition change.
“It opened the door to more realistic and honest conversations,” she says. “It’s been incredibly empowering. Like the injuries of the past, more and more athletes are saying,” I need help with this. ” “
The North Carolina track and field community has put mental health awareness at the forefront following the fall suicide.
“We have found many opportunities to really deepen the type of conversation about what everyone is experiencing and emphasize how important your life is to your grades and performance.” Shannon says.
After seven months of fast-forwarding, another wave of suicide struck the university world, this time within the athletics community. Stanford University football captain Katie Meyer, University of Wisconsin Madison cross-country runner Sarah Schulze, and James Madison softball star Lauren Burnett have committed suicide over the past few months.
“I think it paused everyone, and it’s still very painful that something like that is needed to pause people having that conversation,” said UNC Women’s Soccer player Maddy Pry. increase. “But what has changed in our team is that they are paused or holding meetings. They are unpleasant meetings, as they say when they are having a hard time. We don’t want to be vulnerable. Our team has just done a good job of changing the way we see everything. ”
Courtesy of UNC Athletics
Pry says Remington has provided athletes with comfort in difficult conversations since Meyer’s death.
“One is that when you’re having a difficult conversation, just have something comfortable and you’re more likely to be open about it. If you feel like you’re in a safe place, it’s better to have those conversations. It’s easy, “she says. “For me, Remington has become a shoulder to rely on if I’m anxious, nervous, or just not having a good day. He makes me feel vulnerable to the people around me.”
Pitcher Nick Argent reiterated his feelings of ply about Remington. “We are all experiencing a struggle. Baseball is a game of failure,” he says. “So, if you make a mistake, you can go back and see Remi. He gives you that positive attitude. I feel like Remi has psychic powers.”
Shannon states that Golden Retrievers “provide a way for people to become more aware of their mental health and access the idea that additional support may be needed.” She adds that he “fixes people” and signals to check in with themselves to see how they feel. He can feel someone struggling, whether it’s because of an injury or a terrible day. He provides people with comfort and opens the door for Rucinski to check in to athletes.
Courtesy of UNC Athletics
“The most important thing is to find a way to open the door to conversation and mental health support,” says Shannon. “The way we get to people who get the type of support we need, the way we get to real open and vulnerable conversations, is the most important thing. That’s the best we can do.
“And I think Remi was a very creative and unique path, so none of us thought it would work exactly as it did.”
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