#BreaktheStigma
Insight on the increase in mental health issues among college athletes
Written by Maddie Austin, Contributing Writer
Illustrated by Haley Wolff, Staff Graphics Team
I would like to extend my deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to the families, friends, and teammates impacted by the loss of student-athletes in our community.
TW: Mental health and suicide
Mental toughness: a quality of mind characterized by an ability to remain highly focused when under intense pressure or competition (Oxford Reference, n.d.). Coaches instill this mindset into their athletes, motivating them to not back down, block out all negative thoughts and keep moving forward. However, there is a point where this mindset can become too extreme. Is an athlete ever allowed to step back for a moment? A fine line exists between healthy and harmful. Unfortunately, many student-athletes struggle with seeing this line, as the thought of taking a step back is unnerving.
The modern college sports culture isn’t what it used to be. Sports didn’t have to fight with academics for funding because athletic funding, in general, wasn’t as important. Soon after the creation of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), colleges began to realize that successful sports attract enrollment, motivating an increase in athletic recruitment (Beyer & Hannah, 2000).
The result of the increasing competition was, and still is, pressure. Pressure expanded from performing well on the field to playing a role in the media. A new era dawned in college sports when the NCAA created the NIL rule in 2021, stating that student-athletes can allow companies to use their own name, image and likeness for marketing endeavors (NCAA Name, Image, and Likeness Rule, n.d.). Off the field, athletes became progressively worried about managing their reputation through NIL, and this was on top of the high stress from recruiters (McQuade, 2021).
The main problem of today’s college sports culture is the overall stigma on athletes’ mental health. Around 35% of elite athletes struggle with burnout, depression or disordered eating (Kindelan, 2022). The overarching expectation of an athlete is to consistently perform well, be strong and act stable. The heavy thoughts that can loom in an athlete’s head are disregarded by several coaches and staff, and the seriousness of these problems is heavily overlooked (Hackensack, 2021). Kristine Keane, clinical sports neuropsychologist, states that some athletes are asked by their coaches, “When is this going to be over?” regarding the status of their mental health (Hackensack, 2021). Since athletes worry about feeling rejected by their coaches, only a mere 10% choose to seek help in improving their mental health (Beyer & Hannah, 2000). Vanderbilt lacrosse athlete Caitlyn Bracken says, “Self-love is important in both directions—from coach to athlete” (Kindelan, 2022). There is a person behind the athlete, and that person weighs more importance than a play in a game ever will.
Balance and schedule in a college athlete’s life are typically more important than in an average person’s life. The ideal schedule includes a healthy amount of academics, social life and sports while maintaining stable mental health. However, the perfectionist mindset millions of student-athletes have puts heavy pressure on this area (Athletes and Mental Health: Breaking the Stigma, 2021). Finding a genuinely healthy balance can be mentally consuming; often when more focus is placed on sports, academics slightly drop (and vice versa). It is a cycle that is difficult to escape.
The necessity to change the culture of college athletics is undeniably apparent. Being aware of the stigma is the first step, and several student-athletes have become more comfortable in sharing their experiences. On May 3, UNCUT, a student organization at UW-Madison revolving around athletes telling their stories, held its first conversation during which athletes shared their perspectives on mental health and sports. Topics including toxic masculinity in the locker room, mental health during the pandemic and revolving identity around sports were discussed.
Among several insightful points, soccer player Emma Jaskaniec explained that as everyone has their own experiences, it does no good to compare your mental health journey with others. Another powerful statement came from Kris Eiring, Wisconsin director of sports and cynical psychology, who stated that pressure with time heavily impacts the mind. If athletes don't have time to themselves to simply just “be” and digest their feelings, they will crash.
The stigma won’t be easy to break, but groups like UNCUT are pieces of the change and hope that college sports need. We cannot back down from this issue. Too many lives have been lost, and an athlete should never question their worth over expectations that simply aren’t realistic. Love, support and comfort are qualities that any person needs to feel accepted, and it should be obvious that these necessities aren’t different for athletes. Change isn’t a suggestion. This is a wake-up call.
I’ve attached resources for those struggling with any of the issues mentioned in this piece. You are never alone.
UHS 24-hour Crisis Services: (608) – 265 – 5600 (option 9)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) – 273 – 8255
Crisis Text Line: Text “HELLO” to 741741
Sources:
Athletes and Mental Health: Breaking the Stigma. (2021, August 10). Cleveland Clinic.
Beyer, J., & Hannah, D. (2000, April). The Cultural Significance of Athletics in U.S. Higher Education. Journal of Sports Management.
Kindelan, K. (2022, April 25). College track star dies by suicide, family launches foundation in her name. ABC News.
NCAA Name, Image, and Likeness Rule. (n.d.) NSCA.
4 Reasons Athletes’ Mental Health is Overlooked. (2021, October 21). Hackensack Meridian Health.
Oxford Reference. (n.d.). Mental Toughness. Oxford Reference.