Mental Health
“Of course it is happening inside your head. . . but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” - J.K. Rowling
"For the longest time, I thought asking for help was a sign of weakness because that's kind of what society teaches us. That's especially true from an athlete's perspective. If we ask for help, then we're not this big macho athlete that people can look up to. Well, you know what? If someone wants to call me weak for asking for help, that's their problem. Because I'm saving my own life."
- Michael Phelps, U.S. Olympic Swimmer
"Know that you're not alone, there are millions of people across the nation and the world who are experiencing the same things that you are."- Amanda Beard, U.S. Olympic Swimmer.
"When I first heard the term 'mental health,' the first thing that came to mind was mental toughness. Masking pain. Hiding it. Keeping it inside. That had been embedded in me since I was a kid. Never show weakness. Suck it up. Play through it. Live through it. Now, I realize that mental health means the total opposite"- Brandon Marshall
Free and Confidential: Mental Health Screening
MSU CPS self-help app: Welltrack
Athletes and Mental Health
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) encourages positive mental health and considers mental health to be an increasing area of concern for college athletes. Participation in college sports supports positive mental health in many ways, including facilitating traits such as self-confidence, connectedness, social support, and positive self-esteem.3 However, assuming that athletes are immune to mental health disorders would be negligent. Overexposure to elite sports can result in a variety of health problems such as over-training, burnout, eating disorders, and other health-related conditions.4 In fact, certain mental health concerns such as performance anxiety, eating disorders, and binge drinking may even be more common among athletes than general college students.1 Further, athletes experience the same stressors and related mental health challenges as their non-athlete peers, with the added stress of on-campus celebrity status and time commitments associated with collegiate athletics. Unfortunately in many athletic settings, a stigma persists that mental health should be something that athletes can "fix on their own," "push through," or that seeking care is a "sign of weakness," which is a common barrier to seeking help.2 It is important to note that mental health is simply part of the web of health and wellness, and is no less important than going to your trainer for knee pain. Mental health and wellness are necessary to perform at one's best in sport.2
Mental illness is more common than you may think...
- About 1/3 of male student-athletes and 1/2 of female student-athletes reported being impacted by anxiety in the last 12 months.2
- 21% of male student-athletes and 28% of female student-athletes reported that they "felt depressed" in the last 12 months.2
- 78% of racial/ethnic minority student-athletes reported a mental health need within the last year (2020) but used services at a rate less than 11% rate.5
- 10-15% of college student-athletes experience psychological distress that is clinically significant.1 That's more than 1 in 10!
References
1. Putukian, M. (2016). The psychological response to injury in student-athletes: a narrative review with a focus on mental health. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(3), 145–148. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-095586
2. Egan, K. (2019). Supporting mental health and well-being among student-athletes. Clinical Sports Medicine, 38, 537-544. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2019.05.003
3. Ryan, H., Gayles, J. G., & Bell, L. (2018). Student‐athletes and mental health experiences. New Directions for Student Services, 163, 67–79. doi: 10.1002/ss.20271
4. Hughes, L., & Leavey, G. (2012). Setting the bar: Athletes and vulnerability to mental illness. British Journal of Psychiatry, 200(2), 95-96. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.111.095976
5. Ballesteros, J., & Tran, A. G. T. T. (2020). Under the face mask: Racial-ethnic minority student-athletes and mental health use. Journal of American College Health, 68(2), 169–175. doi:10.1080/07448481.2018.1536663
2. Egan, K. (2019). Supporting mental health and well-being among student-athletes. Clinical Sports Medicine, 38, 537-544. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2019.05.003
3. Ryan, H., Gayles, J. G., & Bell, L. (2018). Student‐athletes and mental health experiences. New Directions for Student Services, 163, 67–79. doi: 10.1002/ss.20271
4. Hughes, L., & Leavey, G. (2012). Setting the bar: Athletes and vulnerability to mental illness. British Journal of Psychiatry, 200(2), 95-96. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.111.095976
5. Ballesteros, J., & Tran, A. G. T. T. (2020). Under the face mask: Racial-ethnic minority student-athletes and mental health use. Journal of American College Health, 68(2), 169–175. doi:10.1080/07448481.2018.1536663
Developed 2021 by Quinn DeStefano, OTD Student
Reviewed 2021 by Aaron Grusonik, MA, Psy.D
Reviewed 2021 by Aaron Grusonik, MA, Psy.D
