Thirty-three percent of college athletes face mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. Of these athletes, only 10% will seek help, according to Athletes for Hope.
There are many disorders common in student athletes — anxiety, personality, attention deficit, hyperactivity and psychosomatic disorders are the most prevalent.
Mental health is a very serious discussion though often overlooked when it comes to student-athletes. Juggling athletics and academics creates a pressure to perform that can be physically and mentally draining.
In a recent interview, Julie Kliegman, Copy Chief at Sports Illustrated, said, “When players are expected to leave the athletic department’s facilities to seek care, they get the message that they’re outsiders, that what they’re dealing with isn’t a problem common among their peers. They can get the impression that they need to separate who they are as student-athletes from the ways in which their brains work.”
The attention athletes receive because of their talents, should be extended to their emotional health. Athletes are often told at some point in their athletic careers not to show weakness, especially toward an opponent, and that mentality can often prevent someone from seeking help.
“For me, I guess what I needed was to talk to somebody. For me, what I needed was to know that I wasn’t alone,” said NBA all-star Kevin Love. “If you’re struggling right now, I can’t tell you that this is going to be easy. But I can tell you that it does get better. And I can tell you that you are definitely not alone.” This issue doesn’t just stop at the collegiate level, it can happen to anyone on any level of their athletic career.
Student-athletes are more than revenue producers for their respective schools. They are, first and foremost young men and women, perhaps gifted in unique ways, but still dealing with the same issues and challenges that all of us face.
