Oklahoma State University Athletics
The Mental Game Matters: OSU’s AIM Health Supports Student-Athletes On and Off the Field
October 09, 2026 | General
TULSA, Okla. — The demands placed on college student-athletes extend well beyond the playing field. Balancing academics, competition, training, injuries, performance expectations, relationships and life transitions can create unique mental and emotional challenges.
At Oklahoma State University, those needs are addressed through AIM Health — Athletes for Integrated Mental Health, a specialized behavioral health program designed specifically for OSU student-athletes.
Dr. Kaelyn Lu, director of AIM Health, is available to discuss the growing importance of integrating behavioral health into comprehensive sports medicine and how OSU's approach supports student-athletes both on and off the field.
"Athletes are whole people, and their mental health is an important part of their overall health and performance," said Dr. Lu. "AIM is designed to give student-athletes access to specialized behavioral health care while recognizing the unique environment in which they live, train and compete."
AIM Health provides OSU student-athletes with confidential, specialized services that address both mental health and performance needs. Services include mental health assessment and screening, individual counseling, performance psychology and mental skills training, group counseling and team workshops, psychiatric services, and referral and care coordination.
The program also integrates behavioral health professionals with OSU sports medicine providers, including athletic trainers, physical therapists and sports medicine physicians. This collaborative approach allows the care team to consider the whole athlete while maintaining safeguards around mental health confidentiality.
AIM also uses a team mental health liaison model, assigning a designated mental health professional to each athletic team. The liaison serves as a consistent point of contact for education, coordination and early identification of concerns while preserving each student-athlete's autonomy and privacy.
The program's performance-focused services extend beyond treating mental health conditions. Student-athletes can develop practical mental skills related to confidence, motivation, goal-setting, managing pressure and anxiety, and maintaining focus. Team-based programming addresses communication, trust, shared values and team culture, while educational sessions for coaches and staff address areas such as emotional intelligence, communication and decision-making in high-performance environments.
About OSU Medicine
OSU Medicine brings unprecedented leadership and innovation to Oklahoma's healthcare landscape by combining excellence in patient care with world-class research and academics. Throughout Tulsa and surrounding communities, OSU Medicine has 27 outpatient clinics with more than 100 physicians covering 19 specialties from primary care to cardiology, pulmonology, obstetrics and more. With 235 beds, OSU Medical Center is the nation's largest osteopathic teaching hospital, providing comprehensive inpatient care while training the next generation of physicians through its residency and fellowship programs. We also partner with health organizations across the state to provide specialized on-site and virtual physician services that increase access to health care for rural and underserved communities in Oklahoma.
At Oklahoma State University, those needs are addressed through AIM Health — Athletes for Integrated Mental Health, a specialized behavioral health program designed specifically for OSU student-athletes.
Dr. Kaelyn Lu, director of AIM Health, is available to discuss the growing importance of integrating behavioral health into comprehensive sports medicine and how OSU's approach supports student-athletes both on and off the field.
"Athletes are whole people, and their mental health is an important part of their overall health and performance," said Dr. Lu. "AIM is designed to give student-athletes access to specialized behavioral health care while recognizing the unique environment in which they live, train and compete."
AIM Health provides OSU student-athletes with confidential, specialized services that address both mental health and performance needs. Services include mental health assessment and screening, individual counseling, performance psychology and mental skills training, group counseling and team workshops, psychiatric services, and referral and care coordination.
The program also integrates behavioral health professionals with OSU sports medicine providers, including athletic trainers, physical therapists and sports medicine physicians. This collaborative approach allows the care team to consider the whole athlete while maintaining safeguards around mental health confidentiality.
AIM also uses a team mental health liaison model, assigning a designated mental health professional to each athletic team. The liaison serves as a consistent point of contact for education, coordination and early identification of concerns while preserving each student-athlete's autonomy and privacy.
The program's performance-focused services extend beyond treating mental health conditions. Student-athletes can develop practical mental skills related to confidence, motivation, goal-setting, managing pressure and anxiety, and maintaining focus. Team-based programming addresses communication, trust, shared values and team culture, while educational sessions for coaches and staff address areas such as emotional intelligence, communication and decision-making in high-performance environments.
About OSU Medicine
OSU Medicine brings unprecedented leadership and innovation to Oklahoma's healthcare landscape by combining excellence in patient care with world-class research and academics. Throughout Tulsa and surrounding communities, OSU Medicine has 27 outpatient clinics with more than 100 physicians covering 19 specialties from primary care to cardiology, pulmonology, obstetrics and more. With 235 beds, OSU Medical Center is the nation's largest osteopathic teaching hospital, providing comprehensive inpatient care while training the next generation of physicians through its residency and fellowship programs. We also partner with health organizations across the state to provide specialized on-site and virtual physician services that increase access to health care for rural and underserved communities in Oklahoma.
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