For Brown’s student-athletes, Bruno Cares redefines what it means to be a supportive teammate

Some of the training exercises can have a light-hearted feel, but they're critical to successful intervention down the line, said Danny Thompson, a junior and offensive lineman on Brown's football team.

"You're with new people, laughing, feeling a little bit awkward role-playing a scenario with someone you just met," Thompson said. "But when you're actually in those situations, you lean on your training. Having already practiced it, you go, 'OK, I know the first couple of words of what I'm going to say, and we'll go from there' - that's what's been so valuable."

The work of a Bruno Cares teammate isn't over once they complete training. They continue their involvement through biweekly check-ins and additional ad hoc trainings and contribute to campus-wide programming.

They're also identifiable on campus through Bruno Cares gear like shirts and buttons, making them a reliable, easily approachable point of contact for peers seeking support.

"The amount of time they put into this is so impressive," Mealer-Flowers said. "It's one thing for us as staff, but for the students who are already training, traveling, studying, and then also giving us their nights and weekends at times - it's beautiful."

Creating community beyond moments of crisis

For Hogan Vivier, an assistant coach for women's soccer and a Class of 2016 graduate who played soccer at Brown, her participation in Bruno Cares as a trained partner was a "full circle" moment.

"The big reason I got into college coaching was because I wanted to be able to continue to build and improve on the experience that I had," Vivier said at this semester's Bruno Cares completion ceremony in April. "It was my dream to end up at Brown… To grow in this space and be part of this program has been really inspiring and makes me feel even more proud to be back at Brown."

Bruno Cares has been equally transformative for students, empowering them to identify gaps in support on their own teams and create opportunities to address them. Thompson joined Bruno Cares as a sophomore. Halfway through his training, he "completely blew up" his knee and required reconstructive surgery.

"But I truly believe that injury was the best thing that's ever happened to me in terms of my athletics, leadership and mental health," Thompson said. "Being part of Bruno Cares, I learned to flip it from 'Wow, this is a really negative thing,' to 'I can grow from this and help give back to people going through negative things, too.'"

He started with his male friends.

"I noticed that whenever I talk to my guy friends and ask them how they're doing, it's always these one-word answers," Thompson said. "I could see someone having the worst day of their life and they'd tell me, 'I'm fine,' and that's that."

As Thompson encouraged friends to open up, others began approaching him. Some were struggling and wanted to talk but were afraid of other people finding out. Some said they'd never met anyone going through what they were and felt alone in the struggles.

With the help of Bruno Cares leaders, Thompson started a men's mental health group for student-athletes earlier this year. The peer group meets regularly to discuss whatever is on their minds, from debunking the "strong, silent male" stereotype in sports to how they were impacted by the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown.

Thompson was worried that no one would show up, let alone talk in front of a group.

"The buy-in has been incredible," he said. "That first meeting, we had guys in tears, pouring out their hearts, sharing their stories and showing incredible courage in being vulnerable right off the bat. I think it just shows how important and necessary this is."

Similarly, her experience as a Bruno Cares teammate inspired junior Ashley Paturzo, a member of the field hockey team, to establish a support group for injured and recovering student-athletes.