Mental Health Resources
-
Dr. Shana Alexander
Member of the Baseball Ops team, Director of Mental Health and Wellness, and EAP, who is available to assist in off field mental health needs of staff, players and families. Dr. Alexander has 14 years of experience treating both children and adults in a wide variety of settings. She specializes in Health Psychology, Sport Psychology and Perinatal Mood Disorders. Common concerns treated by Dr. Alexander are anxiety, depression, relational, grief/loss, OCD, substance abuse, disordered eating, and ADHD.
In her role as EAP director, Dr. Alexander is responsible for assisting players and staff with therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs). She also provides education regarding MLB’s drug testing protocols.
Dr. Alexander can be reached at salexander@sfgiants.com or (916) 835-5222.
-
Dr. Emily Cheatum
Member of the Baseball Ops team, Minor League Mental Health Coordinator, Dr. Cheatum has 13 years of experience as a psychologist. She has extensive experience, training and interest in working with adults and adolescents. Dr. Cheatum’s therapeutic approach is tailored to each client, however, she often utilizes interventions and modalities that are based in cognitive-behavioral theory, solution-focused therapy, insight and process oriented approaches and evidence based models such as EMDR and Internal Family Systems.
Dr. Emily Cheatum is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS), also holding certifications in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and The NeuroSequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT). She is trained in EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS)
-
Drew Robinson
Drew Robinson will be entering his first year under the baseball operations side of the San Francisco Giants organization assisting Dr. Shana Alexander and Dr. Emily Cheatum in the mental health & wellness department. He will be in charge of creating a Peer Support Program throughout the organization to help players and staff start their own conversations regarding their mental and emotional wellbeing.
Born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, Robinson signed his first professional contract with the Texas Rangers out of high school and went on to play parts of 12 seasons with the Rangers, Cardinals, and Giants while spending parts of three seasons in the Major Leagues with the Rangers and Cardinals. In February of 2020, he and ESPN released an E60 documentary on his survived suicide attempt in hopes to end the stigma surrounding mental health. He hopes his story will help people share his passion to be vulnerable with different self-care techniques to avoid getting to a headspace that he experienced that lead to his attempt.
Employee Assistance Program via Sand Creek Group
(All One Health)
Suicide Prevention and Awareness
Anxiety and Depression
With all mental health disorders, it is important to keep in mind that there is a spectrum of severity. There are also several different types of anxiety and depression.
Anxiety and depression can also present at the same time (comorbid). Roughly 60% of people with anxiety will also have symptoms of depression and the numbers are similar for those with depression also having some anxiety. Below are a few articles of athletes highlighting their experience/struggles with depression and anxiety: To Anybody Going through it, You are not alone, It’s okay to fall apart, The toughest call of my life (please put pictures and links the to the articles listed above)
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please know they are treatable. Speak up and ask for help. Contact Shana Alexander, Sand Creek, or consider texting the confidential player and family helpline at: 844-336-0605
Click the links below to learn more about the different categories and symptoms of anxiety and depression:
Substance Use and Abuse
It is often hard for people to acknowledge that they may struggle with a substance abuse disorder, but it is fair to say that using substances does have an impact on your mood and likely your relationships and level of functioning; both while you are using and while you are sober. Mental health concerns and substance abuse are often co-occurring. People may turn to a substance rather than proper treatment to cope with painful or negative emotions. Unfortunately, this of results in addiction and likely more severe mood concerns. It is also important to make note is there is an addiction history in the family. There is a genetic correction with substance abuse and if other family members struggle with addictions you are more susceptible as well.
Possible Signs of Substance Abuse:
Inability to sleep, awake at unusual times, over sleeping
Drop in grades or performance at work
Moodiness
Lack of Motivation
Poor Hygiene
Financial difficulties
Change in appearance: bloodshot eyes, bad breath, shakes or tremors, frequently bloody nose, weight gain or loss
Change in daily routines
Change in friends and activities
For more information on substance use: National Alliance of Mental Health (Substance Abuse)
National Helpline for Families facing mental and/or substance use disorders: US Department of Health and Human Services - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Here are a few athletes talking about their struggles with substances:
Additional Resources
Headspace
Insight Timer
An app and online community for meditation. It has the world’s largest free library of 30k+ guided meditations, along with resources in Spanish, music, talks, and blog posts.
Core Meditation Trainer
Unlike other guided meditation options, Core is a hand-held trainer that uses dynamic vibrations, synced with each class, to help you stay present through tout each session. Using biosensors, core tracks your heart rate, so you can see your body’s physical response to calming your mind. See your progress, love your practice.
Players Tribune Resources
“There are few platforms as powerful as those belonging to athletes. To that end, we have collected together the stories about mental health that players have written for TPT. In putting all this content in one place, our goal is to help reduce social stigma, drive awareness and inspire change. Here's to feeling a little less alone.”
San Francisco Giants Outfielder Drew Robinson’s Remarkable Second Act - Jeff Passan
MLB Mental Wellness
Minor League Player Wellness Program, Major League Players/Partners/Family Helpline, Psych Hub (platform providing free, engaging videos about mental health, substance use and suicide prevention.)