The Importance of Student Athletes and Their Mental Health 

We often don’t hear about student athletes’ mental health struggles until it’s too late. Why? With school back in session, a lot of stress comes along with it. Athletes maintaining their academics and athletics can often be overwhelming. Keeping up with how you’re truly doing mentally is just as important as going to that practice or training. So, stop and ask yourself, “How am I doing? Truly?”. The pressure of keeping good grades along with striving in your extracurricular activities can be seen as extremely challenging and exhausting . Taking a break from sports to focus on yourself and academics, is understanding from the perspective of your coaches. As a student athlete, feeling out of control and overwhelmed is common. Finding time to balance your priorities and focusing on one task at a time is extremely important. There are people all around you that are here to support you. If you or one of your peers find that you’re not eating well, having mood swings, not sleeping well, isolating from social events, or having trouble academically, speak up. No one knew about the struggles of Maddy Holleran, Morgan Rodgers, Austin Weirich, Evan Hansen, Bryce Gowdy, Tyler Hilinski, Katie Meyer and unfortunately more. There’s a sort of embarrassment when it comes to mental health. Scared you will be seen as a failure, disappointment, weak. There are countless kind words for a torn ACL, but almost none when it comes to mental health battles. Stop shaming those with mental health struggles, and start supporting. Student athletes’ mental health is overlooked way too often. First comes the person, then the academics and athletics. Dial 988, if you or someone you know is in a mental health crisis.