Mental illness was an opponent they couldn’t beat
Sarah Shulze — UW Madison Track and Cross Country
Katie Meyer — Stanford Soccer
Jayden Hill — Northern Michigan Track and Field
Robert Martin — Binghamtom Lacrosse
Lauren Bernett — James Madison University Softball
In April and May of this year, these five collegiate athletes took their own lives.
According to Mayo Clinic, rates for anxiety and depression in college students have increased dramatically with up to 44% of college students reporting symptoms and 1 in 3 experiencing significant anxiety and depression.
In a 2020 NCAA survey of nearly 10,000 collegiate athletes, 38% of those in women’s sports and 22% of those in men’s sports reported feeling mentally exhausted constantly or most every day. It was the most common concern reported.
In her essay, A Letter to College Sports, Vanderbilt lacrosse player Cailin Bracken describes life as a collegiate athlete:
Playing a college sport is just hard. It is really hard. And if you’d like to have a life outside of your sport, which many of us student athletes do, you’re then taking on a self-imposed responsibility to maintain your academics, your social life, your career, and your relationships — all the while learning to navigate complicated feelings, conflict, the wavering sense of worthiness and having your basic psychological needs met as a young adult.
Because college athletes have worked so hard to get where they are — and seem to have achieved the ultimate dream of many younger athletes — it can be difficult to ask for help as Serafina King, a rower at the University of Oklahoma explains:
It’s also hard for many students to overcome the narrative that student athletes are given incredible opportunities and resources. Sometimes when we speak out, people wonder why we are suffering — aren’t we being given such an amazing academic and athletic experience? But that comes with a lot of stress, including juggling practices, competition, and a full academic schedule.
I am not a mental health professional, but I suspect that the pressure these young athletes feel did not start in college, it ramped up in college. Too many youth sports programs emphasize playing early, often, and well. That’s a lot to expect from kids.
The deaths are tragic, and the viewpoints of young athletes serve as a warning sign.
In response, many coaches are increasing their own awareness of mental illness, and many universities are increasing their staff that supports students’ mental health.
The deaths earlier this year prompted Patty Gasso, Oklahoma University softball head coach to serve as a panelist on mental health in athletics. She says:
I think these student-athletes are pushed and pressed, and they have a lot of plates that are spinning and are trying to balance everything.
Parents also need to increase their awareness of the mental demands (as well as the physical injuries) that have become a part of youth sports. Mental health issues can affect athletes of all ages, not just college players. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.
This National Athletic Trainers’ Association handout lists signs and symptoms of mental health concerns and athlete burnout.
Suicide is a scary topic, and a parent’s nightmare. Mental health is something most of us can learn more about. But knowledge is power, and the more we learn, the more we can do to reduce the risks and recognize the signs — so there are fewer stories like Sarah’s, Katie’s, Jayden’s, Robert’s, and Lauren’s.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Statements are based on credible news articles and medical resources. My intention is to raise awareness. Please learn more and discuss questions and concerns with your family's physician.
October 10, 2022 is World Mental Health Day
Learn more
Cailin Bracken: A Letter to College Sports, USA Lacrosse Magazine, April 8, 2022
College Students and Depression: A Guide for Parents, Mayo Clinic, July 19, 2022
How JMU catcher Lauren Bernett's death rocked college softball and pushed it to action on mental health; Jenni Carlson, Oklahoman, USA Today, Updated 3:05 pm EDT May. 9, 2022
NATA Infographics on mental health, sleep, stress, and suicide awareness
NCAA Student-Athlete Well-Being Study, May 2022
Student Athletes and Mental Health—All play puts them at a loss, New Hampshire Union Leader, by Matt McSorley, August 30, 2022
‘We’re taught to push through pain’: College athletes on the mental health crisis, Megan Holohan, TODAY, May 31, 2022
Do you know someone who needs help?
The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health condition, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public.
The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., CT.
Text "HelpLine" to 62640
Email helpline@nami.org
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