Student-Athletes & Their Mental Health

Athlete mental health is something that has had more attention placed on it recently due to the brave efforts of people like Demar DeRozan, Kevin Love, Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, and so many other strong athletes who have come out and spoken about their own challenges and triumphs when it comes to their mental health. Athletes are some of the toughest people in the world, but we often forget they are human. In game four of the 2023 WNBA finals, Sabrina Ionescu threw up late in the game before returning like nothing had happened. Clearly, something had happened. However, this is something that will be swept under the rug as online trolls and wannabe analysts bash her and New York for losing.

 

We feel, despite the stone-cold faces we are able to assume during play. We hurt and cry despite how many times we wordlessly get up after hitting the ground. We bleed the same colour as you and have real human emotions just as you do. People- from coaches, media, fans, the outside world, parents, and even the athletes themself need to realize this. 

 

It’s hard. Especially as an athlete when you’re constantly non-maliciously told that “nobody cares” to “push through” and that “you’re too weak”. These are phrases so commonly used that can eventually weigh on someone as they seep into their subconsciousness and constantly remind the athlete that they’re not giving enough, or that they’re essentially being “too human”.

 

It’s hard to find a balance. These words can continue to be said as long as we create more safe spaces for athletes to share their thoughts and feelings. We have to be encouraging and open. We can’t degrade them for needing a mental break. Being a human is hard. Playing a high-level and high-expectation sport makes it even harder. Most people don’t realize that though; only seeing the glamour and glitz on the surface level of what it means to be an athlete. We have to make them want to ask for help. If we can achieve this we can work towards lowering the percentage of athletes facing serious depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and other mental illnesses that make day-to-day life a challenge and their own minds a scary space to reside in.

 

Anonymous groups for athletes to talk about their mental health could be an option. People continuing to speak out on this epidemic and sharing their stories can also help. 

 

Personally, hearing people like Giannis, and John Wall, speak about their mental health helped me eventually seek help for my own challenges.

 

a short glimpse into my mental health journey

 

As many of you know, I am a skilled basketball player who received a D1 scholarship. Though, many of you don’t know that I ended up withdrawing and sacrificing my scholarship for the sake of my mental health. I’ve been in a bad place for around 3 years. It’s been hard, and I’ve been in denial about it. As mentioned before, hearing professional athletes share their stories helped me come to terms with the fact that maybe I wasn’t fully okay. 

 

I kept up a hard exterior that made it hard for anyone to fully tell what I was thinking or feeling. I needed help, but was scared that my image of being this stone-cold killer on the court would diminish if I told people what was going on- if I showed emotion- which at the time, I thought of as a weakness. 

 

It was hard to make the decision to come home, but I eventually realized that my health and safety were more important than keeping up an image for other people I rarely even spoke to. 

 

I’m home now. I’m reading self-help books, listening to podcasts, practicing mindfulness, trying new things, and taking my medication regularly. I’m on a journey of self-improvement and after all this time, I can finally, for once say that I’m proud of myself. 

 

I still love the game. That’ll never change. But right now, and I don’t know for how long, I can’t keep playing the game while simultaneously trying to help myself feel better on an emotional and spiritual level.

 

I love basketball. It’s opened many doors and helped me meet great people. I will always love basketball. But right now I need a break because in the end, if you don’t take care of you… and your mind… and your soul, then you’ll eventually crumble and lose faith in everything.

 

I don’t want that to happen again. And I hope this blog can help any struggling athletes feel even just a bit more willing to ask for help and put themselves first.

 

I love You. I believe in You. You got this.