Being a student-athlete can be one of the most memorable and exciting times in an athletes career. But, for many student athletes, with the addition of a sport while being in school, this can affect mental health, performance, grades and more...
(The Baker Orange, Image by: Maria Echeverry)
Over the past few decades, college athletics has increasingly become an environment for higher standards and performance. Although change is inevitable, schools and the evolution of athletics should not change the priority of a person’s health.
We are all unique and can handle things differently, but from personal experience, balancing my mental health between the two was difficult. Today in modern collegiate athletics, more resources are being constantly implemented countrywide and universities are increasingly emphasizing the importance of mental health. Unfortunately, ever since the pandemic hit in 2020, the number of student-athletes suffering from conditions such as stress, anxiety, and depression has grown “1.5 to two times higher” according to NCAA well-being survey.
Many athletes across the country have shown increased signs of vulnerability due to daily stressors from participating in athletics at the same time. These stressors can include less time to work on daily assignments, tests, internships, balancing personal life, and other factors outside of athletics causing increased symptoms. Then, combine those stressors with playing a sport at the same time, such as being under constant pressure to perform, playing time, and relationships with teammates/coaches, it can be a lot. Together, this creates an impact on student-athletes that can build up and become unhealthy affecting performance, grades in school, and life socially.
Depending on you are, some athletes can be more vulnerable and experience more symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression more easily and frequently compared to others. For me, I was in between and there were times when I found myself beyond overwhelmed or stressed from missing multiple days of class. I needed to be on top of my time management at all times to get by. There were many instances where I would miss the day of an exam or test and have to take it another day with the new material for the next week added on. It’s as if I had more and more weight being placed on my shoulders each time this happened.
The other aspect I found difficult about being a student-athlete was my focus. I can’t tell you how many training sessions or sometimes games went by where I would be thinking about how late I have to stay up to finish a 5-page essay, studying for tests, homework, the list goes on. All of these emotions inside my head caused me to be less social, reserved and project myself as someone who I wasn’t. My mood changed frequently, I found myself to be on edge more and noticed even the tiniest of things would cause frustration.
I remember one time specifically during my sophomore year, my family traveled to watch me play and after the game they wanted to spend time with me. But, because I had just played a game later in the day and was already missing multiple classes and assignments, this affected my decision making and in the end, I told them I couldn’t. My family drove 8 hours to see me play, and I couldn’t spend at least one hour with them because I was so focused on myself…
Many of my teammates I observed also were stressed and anxious frequently about turning in homework and making up tests on time. At one point in my Junior year in college, I decided to see a therapist because I felt like all the weight on my shoulders from trying to balance the two was dragging me down.
Universities everywhere have taken a further initiative to address mental health among student-athletes as noted, but, there is still one key component missing, athletes speaking up for themselves. With that being said, it’s easier said than done, and more athletes have definitely begun to speak up about their mental health. But, an estimated number of only 10% of athletes reach out for help according to Athletes for Hope. Student-athletes need to begin to realize more and more that it’s ok to ask for help, it’s ok to go see a therapist or talk with your coach and teachers about what you’re going through.
The only way we can begin to see more improvement in resources, support, and recognition for what student-athletes are experiencing is by creating an environment where athletes feel comfortable discussing their emotions. Athletes shouldn’t need to hide their emotions or cram their stress, depression, and anxiety deep down inside of them to move on. This is a topic and an ongoing conversation that needs to be taken more seriously. When someone shares what emotions they’ve been experiencing and how it’s been affecting them, it doesn’t make someone weak. No, it makes them stronger as an individual and as an athlete because they’re willing to speak up for themselves.
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