Student Athletes
Mental Health and Student Athletes
Some might assume or expect that athletes might be better adjusted, have higher self-esteem or confidence, and therefore are at a lower risk for experiencing mental health issues. Though this question has not been answered, it may very well be that this assumption is not at all true; maybe athletes are at higher risk. When it comes to mental health, the full range of issues found in the general student population can also be found in the life of student-athletes. Mental health is challenged by any number of factors in student life. Some of the many reasons that may cause students to experience depression are listed below.
Reasons for Depression
- Genetic Predisposition
- Developmental Challenges of College Transitions
- Academic Stress
- Financial Pressures
- Interpersonal Difficulties
- Grief Over Loss/Failure
The Stresses Facing Student Athletes
Participation in athletics does not provide student-athletes any immunity to these stresses, and it has the potential to pose additional demands. Student-athletes must balance all of the demands of being a college student along with athletics demands. This includes the physical demands of their sport, along with the time commitment of participation as well as strength and conditioning and skill instruction.
Most athletes participate almost year-round, often missing holidays, school and summer breaks, as well as classes and even graduation. In addition, if they struggle in their performance, have difficulty interacting with the coach or teammates, or if they lose their passion for their sport, it can be very difficult to handle.
On the other hand, for many athletes who define themselves by their role as an athlete, an injury can be devastating. Additionally, getting cut from the team, being finished with eligibility or being asked to play a limited role on a team. These losses lead to questions, such as "Now what?" and "Who am I?"
The Difficulty of Seeking Help
Some attributes of athletics and competition can make it extremely difficult for student-athletes to obtain help. They are taught to "play through the pain," struggle through adversity, handle problems on their own, and "never let your enemies see you cry." Seeking help is seen as a sign of weakness, when it likely should be recognized as a sign of strength.
Team dynamics also may be a factor: problems often are kept "in the family," and it is common for teams to try to solve problems by themselves, often ignoring signs or symptoms of more serious issues.
Depression affects approximately 19 million Americans, and for many, the symptoms first appear before or during college.
Early identification and intervention (referral/treatment) for depression or other mental illness is extremely important, yet may be inhibited within the athletics culture for the reasons below:
Student Athletes
Obstacles Faced by Student Athletes When Seeking Help
- Physical illness or injury is more readily measured and treated within sports medicine, and often there is less comfort in addressing mental illness.
- Mental wellness is not always perceived as necessary for athletic performance.
- The high profile of student-athletes may magnify the attention paid on campus and in the surrounding community when an athlete seeks help.
- History and tradition drive athletics, and can stand as barriers to change.
- The athletics department may be in denial, or desire to disassociate mental illness in any way with athletic participation.
Taken from: http://suicideandmentalhealthassociationinternational.org/stuath.html by Margot Putukian & Mary Wilfert (2006)
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Anna M. Gove Student Health Center, 107 Gray Drive 27412
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
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