Mental health and collegiate athletes
Trending the wrong way…
In the past few months, there have been high-profile collegiate athletes that have died by suicide. The trends are concerning, as five NCAA athletes died in a two-month span in early 2022. One is heartbreaking…five is beyond devastating.
Research has shown that collegiate athletes have better mental health than non-collegiate athletes (Edwards & Froehle, 2021). Part of this is that athletes have connection, activity, support, and ways to build self-worth. And yet, these days, athletes have more pressure than ever (if you aren’t sure this is true, learn from Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, and Michael Phelps.) In fact, 25-30% of college athletes have an Anxiety Disorder, yet only 10% of them receive treatment (ACSM, 2021). Athletes are stressed, deal with injuries, lack any time for things outside of their sport and school, and at times, feel the weight of the world on their shoulders.
Elite athletes often have a mindset that makes them great. They will outwork you, they will perfect their craft, and they will do what it takes to succeed. And while that type of personality benefits them more than it does not, it can become a barrier to mental wellness. Perfectionism, not being good enough, feeling like you are letting others down…this can spiral someone into a state of anxiety or depression that from the outside, is hard to see.
We have to protect collegiate athletes and their mental health more than ever. Education and awareness are important but not the end-all answer. Our college students are aware of mental health more than any other generation. They are okay talking about it. But when, how, and with who? These are the questions that need to be answered by every collegiate program across the country. Supporting your athlete to address their mental health concerns will not only improve their performance but might save their life. Giving athletes tools to cope, sharing your own struggles and stories with mental health, and giving actually time and permission to put their health first will shift this scary trend.
The world is talking about mental health more than ever. We are primed to support this generation of athletes. We have the tools. It is time.
Text 741741 or call 1-800-273-TALK if you need help immediately.
Edwards, B. & Froehle, A. (2021). Examining the incidence of reporting mental health diagnosis between college student athletes and non-athlete students and the impact on academic performance. Journal of American College Health. 2021 Feb 2:1-7. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1874387. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33529131.
The American College of Sports Medicine Statement on Mental Health Challenges for Athletes. (2021, Aug. 9). American College of Sports Medicine. https://www.acsm.org/news-detail/2021/08/09/the-american-college-of-sports-medicine-statement-on-mental-health-challenges-for-athletes