Between 2023 and 2025, a Division I university partnered with Resiliency Technologies to implement Sharpen® DTX across their entire athletic program. The platform combined two components: a validated clinical screening tool (CAT-MH®) for detecting elevated suicide risk, and a suite of peer-focused mental health literacy and athlete wellness modules designed to normalize help-seeking among student-athletes.
Over the three-year implementation, 1,275 student-athletes completed the program. What the data showed — and what it means for athletic programs considering similar approaches — is the subject of this report.
What the data show
The most significant finding was the rate of clinical flagging and the speed of response. Among the 1,275 participants, 9.9% were identified as having elevated suicide risk through the CAT-MH® screening — and every single one of those individuals received same-day clinical triage through the Sharpen dashboard.
That same-day response rate represents a significant departure from how elevated risk is typically managed in collegiate athletic programs, where referral chains, scheduling delays, and handoff failures often mean days or weeks pass before a flagged student receives follow-up.
Why universal screening matters in athletic populations
Student-athletes are often presumed to be a psychologically resilient population — and that assumption, while understandable, creates blind spots. Research consistently shows that athletes face a distinct set of stressors including performance pressure, identity foreclosure, injury, and the social dynamics of team environments. These factors can both elevate risk and reduce the likelihood of voluntary help-seeking.
"Universal screening removes the burden of self-identification. It reframes mental health as a standard part of athletic preparation, not a sign of weakness."
— Resiliency Technologies · Sharpen DTX White Paper, 2025
By embedding screening within a broader wellness platform — rather than presenting it as a standalone clinical intervention — the implementation reduced stigma and increased completion rates. The mental health literacy modules provided context and language that made the screening process feel less clinical and more integrated into the everyday athlete experience.
Implementation architecture
The Sharpen DTX platform at this institution was deployed in three layers:
- Universal intake screening using CAT-MH® — a computer adaptive assessment validated for mental health and suicide risk triage
- Mental health literacy modules covering topics including stress, sleep, identity, relationships, and mindfulness — accessible on any device
- Clinical dashboard providing real-time alerts to staff when a student-athlete is flagged, with workflow tools to document follow-up
About CAT-MH®
The Computerized Adaptive Testing — Mental Health (CAT-MH®) is a suite of validated adaptive assessments developed at the University of Illinois at Chicago. It adapts in real time based on user responses, producing clinically reliable triage scores in significantly fewer questions than static instruments.
What this means for your program
For athletic programs weighing whether to implement a system like this, the operational question is often not "should we screen" but "how do we act on what we find." The Sharpen DTX model is built around that challenge — not just identifying risk, but creating a reliable pathway from identification to response.
A full white paper with the complete methodology, data tables, and implementation guidance is available for download. Institutions interested in piloting Sharpen DTX for their athletic program can request a consultation.
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