Signs of Distress
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Overview
Prioritizing mental health at every level in university athletic departments is essential for optimal athlete wellness and performance.1 In a national collegiate sample, student-athletes were less likely than non-athletes to have previously sought mental health services.2 Core barriers to help-seeking often include negative stigmas and poor mental health literacy.2,4 This underutilization of mental health services suggests unmet mental health needs among athletes, which can decrease functioning and instigate the use of unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance abuse.3 Such maladaptive coping mechanisms hinder the athlete's overall wellness in addition to reducing their ability to perform in athletics. Encouraging mental health help-seeking when needed is, therefore, a priority. Coaches, trainers, staff, and administrators are all key players in fostering a positive mental health culture at MSU. In fact, researchers have found that when given an option, student-athletes reported a greater willingness to seek help for personal issues from informal sources such as coaches, friends, or family, rather than going straight to medical professionals.2 In this way, athletic staff members are often a gateway to appropriate mental health services because athletes may come to them with mental health challenges, and coaches tend to know when an athlete is struggling. For these reasons, understanding some key warning signs is essential.
Warning Signs
The bottom line is: trust your intuition. If you are noticing changes in the athlete's ability to come to practice on time, perform in their sport, and they just are not "themselves," odds are they are experiencing some kind of mental health challenge. To support their mental health, observe the athletes for signs of distress and engage them in conversation about how they are doing.1 Here are potential signs of distress:
- Withdrawal from friends, teammates or activities1
- Agitation or difficulty appearing calm1
- Seeming to be down, sad, or having low energy1
- Significant changes in eating behavior, sleep, and/or substance use1
- Substantial weight loss or weight gain1
- Making critical statements about oneself, one's value, and/or one's body shape, size, or weight1
- Expressions of hopelessness1
- Violent/Irritable behavior1
- Changes in personal hygiene1
- Other concerning behaviors or statements (difficulty following instructions, difficulty getting along with peers, not caring anymore, etc.)
Referral Resources
Signs & Symptoms of Specific Mental Illnesses
References
1. Egan, K. (2019). Supporting mental health and well-being among student athletes. Clinical Sports Medicine, 38, 537-544. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2019.05.0032. Hilliard, R. C., Watson, J. C., 2nd, & Zizzi, S. J. (2020). Stigma, attitudes, and intentions to seek mental health services in college student-athletes. Journal of American College Health, 1–10. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1806851
3. 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. https://doi-org.ezproxy.umary.edu/10.1080/07448481.2018.1536663
4. 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
Developed 2021 by Quinn DeStefano, OTD Student
Reviewed 2021 by Aaron Grusonik, MA, Psy.D
