Wiley points out to players that things like focus, confidence and anxiety management are actual skills they can master.
“The good thing about something being a skill is if you can identify your area of improvement and develop a process to improve, then things can improve over time,” Wiley said. “So I help guys first identify what some of the mental challenges they might be having, whether it’s performance anxiety, dealing with focus or being focused on the court. [and then] developing routines that help them prepare when they’re off the field, whether it’s study time, memorizing parts, learning how to think about certain situations. I give guys tangible processes that they can use to get better in those areas.”
Another key member of the Bears organization who provides valuable mental health support is team clinician Carla Suber. She conducts individual and group sessions with players and also provides referrals for their family members.
Suber, who was hired by the Bears full-time in 2020, found that it helps players “focus and get grounded and manage their internal motors because they’re used to going, going, going , but then sometimes. it can be kind of a spiral. So helping them be grounded, helping them meditate, helping them be mindful and be in the present.”
“They have such a long list of things to do during the day, so let’s break this down into manageable tasks,” she said. “And then when things get overwhelming, we’ll work on strategies for how to manage that overwhelming feeling they might have.
“We spend a lot of time helping them just be able to slow things down. The coaches try to help them slow things down on the football field so they can attack it. I try to do that for them in life.”
Suber also emphasizes the importance of sleep and its impact on mental health.
“My whole mantra to them is as much as I love football and as much as I want us to win a Super Bowl,” she said, “I really want you all to be happy, healthy, whole people , to be able to be good husbands, good fathers, good brothers, good teammates, just good people and just be able to live the life you want to live.”
As part of their drive to provide mental health support and resources, the Bears understand the importance of trying to destigmatize mental health issues.
“Just make it as normal as possible,” said the Poles. “Coach Eberflus has done a really nice job of making that part of his meetings and making it open and talking about it openly. The other part that we talk about a lot is just modeling behavior. I felt like I’ve been quite open.Every fortnight I meet with [a doctor]. I have to talk about the stuff that’s on my chest that comes with this job, and I’m open about it, and hopefully that can influence whether it’s just one or two or three players or staff members who feel comfortable. asking for help and just talking to someone if they’re going through something.”
“It’s just the culture,” Eberflus added. “And then you just bring it to life. You put it on the table and let them know that the services are there and it’s OK to get help and use those services. For me, it’s about standing up and the culture that you are. behavior like a whole football team that Ryan and I are doing and it’s okay. Everyone has been affected by mental health issues; it could be a sibling, it could be an aunt or uncle, whatever be it. Everyone is affected by You must be supportive in that area.”
