Over 8 million students in the United States participated in sports during the 2023–24 season. Sports offer students valuable opportunities to develop important life skills such as communication, focus, and self-confidence. They also create a sense of community by allowing students to connect with like minded peers, often leading to improved social lives. However, participation in sports can also have drawbacks particularly the mental and emotional toll it may take on students.
Student-athletes face unique circumstances as they are juggling their sport, academics, and social lives at all the same time.“According to the American College Health Association, over 30% of students reported significant signs of depression.” Depression is not the only issue reported by athletes as many reported that stress,anxiety and even eating disorders. These issues are caused by the pressure to perform at a higher level, academic worry, financial worry and planning for the future according to the NCAA study regarding the factors of depression and other major mental issues. In NCAA research they found that academic worries were the most negative factor for athletes in any level of the NCAA.
Many of these may go unseen as there is a stigma around student athletes and mental health.There are many organizations trying to relieve stigma around mental health, one being the NCAA. They wrote articles in which they explain new policies and accommodation for those in the NCAA one being that regardless of a school’s divisions in NCAA each one must provide “ appropriate resources and open engagement with respect to physical and mental health.” to which the NCAA Chief Medical Officer Brian Hainline, stated “The updated Mental Health Best Practices reflects the highest standards of excellence and evidence-based practice and of comprehensive and up-to-date guidance on supporting mental health in collegiate athletics,” which shows major improve for students, athletes and the stigma around mental health, as the NCAA is not the only organization working toward improvements.
Other organizations such as Morgen Message work to eliminate the stigma around mental health.The organization was started after Morgan Rogers took her own life because of mental health problems after a serious knee injury that shattered her dreams. Morgan was Division 1 lacrosse player at Duke University, She was a good student with lots of curiosity she was beloved by all that were present in her life. Morgan’s message was found by Morgan’s family and friends in hopes to spread awareness about student-athletes mental health. Morgan’s message can be seen throughout the High Schools in Central New York and many other locations including colleges. Many high school sports dedicate one game to Morgan’s message as well as promote morgen message with many advertisements that are made by a group of students within the school who are all part of Morgan’s message.
