Mental Health Awareness in Student-Athletes
Mental Health? I'm perfectly healthy!
As an adolescent, you are currently going through the most physically transformative process of your life. Yes, physically you are getting stronger, faster, more intelligent with each passing year; however, there are changes happening within the chemical makeup of your brain as well.
Okay, and...? There's nothing wrong in that area either. Plus, I don't have the time to worry about that now anyway.
That is what I was looking for, the stock response that teenage adolescents have been giving to their parents, friends, coaches, principals, and counselors for decades.
In that response is the most crucial aspect of dealing positively with your own mental well-being... you don't have the time! As a student-athlete in today's society, you are constantly bombarded with requests, expectations, success, social media, peer pressure, etc. These factors act as stressors to your brain, hormones, emotions and build up with each successive year. If you can't recognize the signs and symptoms of a mental health problem, how can you know that you need help?
daily life of a student-athlete
Expectations, Responsibilities, and the Impossible "Juggling Act"
Friendships and Social Interactions
As a high school student, you undoubtedly have friendships and relationships that are very important to you. Finding the time and effort to maintain these connections is important, but can sometimes be emotionally draining.
Putting the "Student" in Student-Athlete
Without question the most important aspect of being student-athlete is that academics take priority over any athletic endeavors. To even be eligible to participate in athletics there are varying academic requirements you must maintain. Daily attendance, reading, quizzes, tests, essays, homework and preparation for EOC's all utilize a vast majority of your time and effort.
In addition to maintaining your coursework, you face pressure from your parents, peers, and possibly coaches who are looking for you go "above and beyond" to excel in the classroom. Balancing your school work and pressure to succeed is definitely an emotional factor and could have an impact on your mental state.
Practice Makes Perfect...Did I Say Perfect, I Mean Tired...So Tired...
Whew, finally done with school for the day. Now I can go home and...ugh, completely forgot about PRACTICE! Student-athletes typically love the camaraderie of their teammates and adrenaline that comes with competitions. In reality, practices can makeup approximately 55% - 82% of the sports season (depending on the sport). This isn't even including weight room sessions, skill development workouts, summer camps, etc. that may be planned as well.
I'll Just Sleep Tomorrow
You've finally gotten home from practice, taken a shower, and all you want to do is rest, eat dinner, and go to bed. Then it hits you that your 5-page paper on the Louisiana Purchase is due tomorrow in 1st Period; you have test in Statistics in 3rd Period; and since you have an away game, you must miss 4th Period, but not before you turn in your spanish verb conjugation sheet. You may think to yourself, how am I ever going to get this done? I have way too much to do! Who needs sleep anyway?!
a message of leadership and self-assurance
Mental Illness: A diagnosable illness that affects a person’s thinking, emotional state and behavior. Disrupts the person’s ability to work, attend school, carry out daily activities, and/or engage in satisfying relationships
Mental illness can manifest itself in multiple ways:
- Behavioral/Emotional
- Physical
- Internal Thoughts and Urges
Behavioral/Emotional
- Frequent Crying
- Social Withdrawal
- Use of Drugs/Alcohol
- Aggression/Defiance
- Excessive Irritability/Mood Swings
- Prolonged Feelings of Hopeless, Helpless, or Sadness
- Blunted Emotions
- Change in Sleeping/Eating Habits
- Talking or Writing About Death
Physical
- Sloppy or Unkempt Appearance
- Poor Hygiene
- Gastrointestinal Issues
- Frequent and Unexplained Physical Ailments
- Unexplained Cuts or Burns
- Abnormal Weight Loss
Internal Thoughts and Urges
- Pessimism
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- All or None Thinking
- Thoughts of Suicide
Contributing Internal Stressors
- Age
- Different Backgrounds/Cultures
- Perfectionist /Obsessive
- Performance anxiety/stress
- Overwhelmed (Social, Academic, Athletic)
- Body Image concerns
Contributing External Stressors/Factors
- Medical Concerns - Injuries, Concussions, Constant Pain
- Pressure from adults/peers
- Lack of family support
- Criticism
- Sudden End of Career - Injuries or eligibility
Perceived Aversions to Reaching Out for Help
- Social stigma
- Fear of embarrassment or shame
- No ability to positively communicate with their parents
- Availability or access to providers
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACES)
The hard truth
Sometimes it may seem as if you are alone...depressed...anxious...overwhelmed...the only person in the world dealing with these feelings
If you don't reach out to someone, these feelings can build until you feel you have no direction or purpose
It is plausible that you have felt this hopeless and even contemplating taking your own life
Over 31.5% of your peers surveyed across the United States have indicated these same feelings of hopelessness
17.2% even seriously considered attempting suicide
7.4% made a legitimate attempt to end their life
you do not have to navigate this journey alone!
You have family, friends, coaches, athletic directors, school administrators, and many more who are here for you
You can always let one of the people in your life know that you are not feeling quite like yourself
We were each high school students and student-athletes and completely understand what you are going through and are willing and able to help whenever you need us
You have taken a very important step in your mental well-being by taking the time to view this presentation, let this serve as a springboard to next step of talking with someone about how you feel
we love you!
It is important to know that you are loved. There are people in your life that love and care for you unconditionally
Sometimes telling someone that you love them is difficult. Those 3 words are powerful enough to save lives and everyone is entitled to hear those words sincerly meant for them.
We Love You!
...and there are plenty of other people out there that love and care for you as well...
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!
This presentation is designed to give you, the student-athlete, encouragement and to empower you to reach out to someone to discuss what you are feeling
If you would like to research more information about mental health or student services resources available to utilize, please click the links below to view and share.
This project would have been impossible without the assistance and encouragement of the following individuals and organizations:
- Brad Alford - Director of Sports and Championships, NCHSAA
- Deran Coe - Director of Athletics, Wake County Public Schools
- Chiquana Dancy - Director of Student Programs and Sports, NCHSAA
- Kayla Dempsey - Director of Marketing and Development, NCHSAA
- Mark Dreibelbis - Associate Commissioner of Student Services & Supervisor of Officials, NCHSAA
- Rhonda Dreibelbis - Director of Athletics, Charles E. Jordan High School
- Joe Franks - Executive Secretary, NCCA
- Grady Hardeman, LAT, ATC - Atrium Health
- Angie Miller, Director of Athletics, Nash-Rocky Mount Schools
- Dr. Sharon Rogers Moore, Associate Professor, Health Education & Promotion, East Carolina Univ.
- Jeff Morris, Head of School, Gray Stone Day School
- Masanori Toguchi, Director of Athletics, William A. Hough High School
- Que Tucker, Commissioner, NCHSAA
- Roy Turner, Executive Director, NCADA
- Victoria Waters, Research Specialist, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill
- Davis Whitfield, Chief Operating Officer, NFHS
- North Carolina High School Athletic Association [NCHSAA]
- National Federation of State High School Associations [NFHS]
- National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association [NIAAA]
- North Carolina Athletic Directors Association [NCADA]
- North Carolina Coaches Association [NCCA]
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019). Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences: Leveraging the Best Available Evidence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [2017] Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at: www.cdc.gov/yrbs. Accessed on [April 23, 2020].
- DeFreese, J. D., & Smith, A. L. (2014). Athlete Social Support, Negative Social Interactions, and Psychological Health Across a Competitive Sport Season. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 36(6), 619–630.
- Galambos, N.L., Leadbeater, B.J., & Barker, E.T. (2004). Gender differences and risk factors for depression in adolescence: A 4-year longitudinal study. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 28, 16–25. doi:10.1080/01650250344000235
- Hardeman, G. (2016). The Need For Mental Health Education In The Athletic Training Profession [ppt.]
- Merrick, M.T., Ford, D.C., Ports, K. A., Guinn, A. S. (2018). Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences From the 2011-2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 23 States. JAMA Pediatrics, 172(11), 1038-1044.
- Ordaz, S., & Luna, B. (2012). Sex differences in physiological reactivity to acute psychosocial stress in adolescence. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 37(8), 1135–1157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.01.002
- Romeo R. D. (2013). The Teenage Brain: The Stress Response and the Adolescent Brain. Current directions in psychological science, 22(2), 140–145. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721413475445
- Sabiston, C. M., Jewett, R., Ashdown-Franks, G., Belanger, M., Brunet, J., O’Loughlin, E., & O’Loughlin, J. (2016). Number of Years of Team and Individual Sport Participation During Adolescence and Depressive Symptoms in Early Adulthood. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 38(1), 105–110.
- Silva, J. M., III. (1990). An analysis of the training stress syndrome in competitive athletics. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 2, 5–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10413209008406417
Submitted and Presented in Consideration of the NIAAA Designation of Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA) by Tra Waters, CAA (North Carolina)
Credits:
Created with images by Cmon - "Umkleide Schränke" • michaeljung - "smiling african college boy"