Navigating Mental Health Challenges for Student Athletes: Struggles and Strengths
More than a third of students will experience mental health concerns during their time at college. Student-athletes are often seen by others as more resilient and more protected from mental health concerns for a host of reasons, but unfortunately, that’s simply not the case and student-athletes can in fact be even more vulnerable to mental health issues than their non-athlete peers.
Buffers to Student Athlete Mental Health
Student athletes can experience both protective and exacerbating factors from their sport when it comes to their mental health.
Joining a college sports team - particularly in D1 colleges - can provide an instant support network of teammates, coaches, academic resources, and fans, all of which can reduce some of the stress and the challenges of managing college life.
Athletes have opportunities to build self-esteem, as they learn and perfect new skills and showcase their abilities, leading to a sense of accomplishment and well-being.
Moreover, physical activity itself has been linked to reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety so being an athlete ensures you’re getting in the physical activity that could unlock these benefits.
Threats to Student Athlete Mental Health
However, the pressures associated with competitive sports at the college level can also work against mental health.
While teammates and coaches offer support, they can sometimes lead to the feeling of crippling additional pressures and stress.
And game days offer a chance to showcase skills and be successful (and maybe party too hard afterwards?), it also provides an opportunity to make errors on a public stage – this can hit an athlete hard. Fears of underperforming, letting down teammates or coaches, or facing criticism can lead to self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy.
Balancing academic commitments with demanding training schedules adds substantial time constraints to student athletes' lives, leaving little room for rest and non-sporting fun– both critical to a healthy mind. This busy lifestyle can take a toll on mental health, potentially leading to burnout, anxiety, and depression symptoms.
Don’t Struggle Alone: Get Support on Campus or Privately
Student athletes who find themselves grappling with mental health concerns often try to manage it solo for fear of judgment or embarrassment, or simply not knowing quite what they’re dealing with. I want those athletes and the coaches they work with, to know that seeking help early in the experience can be incredibly beneficial and save you pain and time in the long run.
College campuses usually offer counseling centers where students can access mental health support, including individual therapy, group sessions, and remote learning to handle common mental health concerns. However, it's crucial to acknowledge that these centers might lack expertise in addressing the unique pressures and mindset of student athletes.
This is where sports-specific therapists or sports psychologists come into play. These professionals specialize in understanding the challenges that athletes face in terms of performance and mental health. They can provide tailored guidance, helping athletes manage their mental well-being while excelling in their sport.
Trust me, if this kind of support was available when I was an athlete, it would have been a gamechanger for my health, my race performance, and my overall longevity in my sport. If your college doesn’t have sport psychology staff at your counseling center, they can often provide referrals to an off-campus sport psychology provider (like me!).
I’ve worked with numerous college athletes as part of their college team, but I’ve also worked with many athletes that wanted to work on this privately, without their college team being aware. If you’d like to speak confidentially about your mental health or performance concerns – away from your college team – you can email me to set up a free assessment and I’ll offer you recommendation to help your specific situation. Email: kim@themovemental.com