As college athletes, we spend numerous hours physically training our bodies to compete. Some mornings start before the sun comes up with conditioning whether that means running repeated springs, completing fitness tests or pushing through an early-morning lift. Later comes practice, where we spend even more time preparing our bodies for competition.
Taking care of our physical health becomes part of our everyday routine. But what if we are physically ready to compete but mentally struggling with everything else going on in our lives?
In college athletics, mental health is as important as physical fitness. It’s not always easy to keep the positivity going, especially with the pressure to perform, not getting a lot of playing time, losses, schoolwork and personal stuff outside of sports. But we’re still expected to turn up and focus and perform at our top level every day, whatever we may be struggling with in our heads.
September was Suicide Prevention Month, bringing greater awareness to suicide prevention and encouraging conversations surrounding mental health. But mental health deserves attention beyond one month. For student-athletes, the pressures of academics, athletics and life outside of sports continue throughout the entire year.
This is the first time that Chaminade University has now added a Wellness Week in effort to priortize a time where students are able to take care of their mental health. Students still attend classes, but professors pause teaching new material for the week. For student-athletes who still have practices, games and other responsibilities during that time, having one academic break can make a difference.
According to an NCAA assessment of nearly 23,000 student-athletes during the 2022–2023 academic year, 35% of female athletes reported feeling mentally spent and 44% reported feeling overburdened. These figures demonstrate that mental health is still a problem in collegiate athletics, even though they are lower than those from earlier NCAA surveys
As a college student-athlete, one of the biggest mental challenges I’ve faced is trying to maintain a positive attitude when the results don’t match the work I’m putting in. Losing games, receiving less playing time than I hoped for or dealing with a personal problem outside of soccer can make it difficult to put those emotions aside and still perform at my highest level.
From Aug. 27 to Oct. 1, Chaminade women’s soccer team spent 20 out of 35 days traveling for games. More than half of those five weeks were spent away from campus, but being away does not mean school stops. There are still assignments to submit, classes to catch up on and practices and games to prepare for. The constant back and forth between being a student-athlete can get exhasuting especially on the road.
There are days when stress from school, relationships or other personal challenges follows me onto the soccer field. I am expected to be focused, motivated and ready to give my best effort. Sometimes, that’s easier said than done. It’s difficult to give 100% physically when you’re already mentally exhausted from everything else going on in your life.
Not getting the results you want can also take a toll on your confidence. When you’re putting in hours of work at practice and in the weight room but aren’t seeing that effort translate into playing time or wins, staying positive can become another challenge. You want to support your teammates and continue working hard, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t frustrated or disappointed.
That’s one of the most overlooked parts of being a student-athlete. We’re constantly reminded to stay positive, work hard and keep pushing through adversity. While those are important lessons in sports, athletes are also human. We have bad days, personal problems and moments when we question ourselves. Sometimes, we need support rather than another reminder to keep pushing.
Toughness is commonly taught to athletes. We learn to persevere through challenging exercises, finish the last sprint, and keep going even when we’re exhausted. That kind of thinking can help us win in athletics, but it can also make it seem weak to admit we need help.
It shouldn’t.
The NCAA has acknowledged the significance of this matter. Under NCAA regulations, its Mental Health Best Practices mandate that member schools offer mental health treatment and support. The recommendations also emphasize establishing pathways to skilled mental health practitioners, assessing athletes for psychological distress, and promoting healthy surroundings.
This is the first time that Chaminade University has now added a Wellness Week in effort to priortize a time where students are able to take care of their mental health. Students still attend classes, but professors pause teaching new material for the week. For student-athletes who still have practices, games and other responsibilities during that time, having one academic break can make a difference.
Wellness Week is a step in the right direction, but supporting student-athletes’ mental health goes beyond giving them an academic break. Athletic departments, coaches and teammates also play a role in creating an environment where athletes feel comfortable speaking about their mental health just as openly as they would a physical injury.
If an athlete tears their ACL, coaches, teammates and athletic trainers recognize that the injury requires time, treatment and support before that athlete can return to the field. Mental struggles deserve that same level of patience, care and understanding, when there is no brace, crutches or visible injury showing that someone is hurting.
Moving forward, college athletics needs to keep creating an environment where athletes feel just as comfortable asking for mental help as they do physical help.
College athletes dedicate countless hours to strengthening their bodies so they can perform at their best. Their minds deserve the same time, care, and attention.
Most importantly, if you are struggling, know that asking for help does not make you weak. You are not alone, and you matter beyond the sport you play.
