College Athletes & Mental Health

College Athletes and Mental Health 

Written by Giuliana Donovan 

The relationship between mental health and college athletes is not always associated with their psychological thoughts. Injuries have been shown to play a large role in the development of depression symptoms in the collegiate athlete. Around 40%-50% of collegiate athletes sustain at least one athletic injury that results in one or more sessions of time loss during their years of eligibility. The seclusion from one's team following an athletic injury adds additional negative stressors, such as psychological disturbance that can evoke anger, depression, anxiety, or a decrease in self-esteem. (Yang et al., 2007)

There have been many strategies implicated to further mental health support for college athletes. Accessing help is to improve the mental health literacy of persons working in elite sport is just one option to consider (Sebbens et al. 2016). Mental health literacy is “knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management or prevention.” (Jorm et al. 1997, p. 182) Coaches and support staff in elite sport are not required to undergo mental health training and may not possess adequate mental health literacy skills, however they occupy positions well suited to promote mental health within sports systems due to their established and trusted relationships with athletes. (Sebbens et al. 2016; Bapat et al. 2009) Current studies do not offer much information on coaches and their assistants abilities to provide their athletes with help but improving coaches’ and support staff’s mental health knowledge and confidence to help others may improve early identification and timely referral of mental health problems in elite athletes. (Sebbens et al. 2016)

Social media has become a huge part of every college student’s life. It is a way for them to connect with friends and family and post pictures and statuses. Recently, it has also become a way for students battling a mental illness to connect with others that are going through the same thing. Research suggests that people with serious mental illness are interested and willing to form connections with others through social media. (Naslund et al. 2016) Identifying with a social group is believed to increase self-esteem and self-efficacy, and reduce uncertainty about oneself. (Naslund et al. 2016; McKenna & Bargh, 1998) And in relation to stigma, online communities may serve as powerful venues where individuals with serious mental illness can challenge stigma through personal empowerment and providing hope. (Naslund et al. 2016; Lawlor & Kirakowski, 2014) For many students’, especially athletes, seeking help is perceived as a sign of weakness, but through social media, they are given the opportunity to discuss what they are going through behind a computer screen with no judgment from their peers. We are at the beginning of what will likely be a significant shift in the way that people with serious mental illness can challenge stigma, seek health information and access interventions aimed at providing support and promoting mental and physical wellbeing. (Naslund et al. 2016)

Getting the proper care for any college student, not just the athletes, is one of the most important things any mental health professional will stress. A 2014-2015 survey done by the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors found that 73.1 percent of counseling center directors reported an increase in the severity of student mental health concerns and related behaviors on their campuses. (BU Today, 2016; Reetz et al. 2014-2015)

Now more than ever, we are facing a true and profound crisis of college mental health. We cannot afford to jeopardize our future, our nation's youth (Balon et al. 2015).

Getting the proper care when dealing with a mental health issue is easier said than done. The issues highlighted are issues students face every day, no matter how much they itch for help. There have been many improvements made, but there is still work to be done. Students working together, with the help of their mentors, friends, and families, to end the mental health stigma and receive the mental health they need is the first step in the fight against mental health across college campuses.

Written by Giuliana Donovan 





Resources

Moreland, J.J., Coxe, A., Yang, J. (2018), Collegiate athletes' mental health services utilization: A systematic review of conceptualizations, operationalizations, facilitators, and barriers, Journal of Health and Science, 7, 58-69

Naslund, J.A., Aschbrenner, K.A., Marsch, L.A., Bartels, S.J. (2013) The future of mental health care: peer-to-peer support and social media. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 10-11

Reetz, D., Krylowicz, B., Bershad, C., Lawrence, J., Mistler, B. (2015). The Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors Annual Survey

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