Why mental health is important in sports!

  November 12

Mountainside

    "Philadelphia cornerback Jaire Alexander is stepping away from the game of football to focus on his mental health" stated ESPN. Jaire was one of the leagues best cornerbacks last year, which has changed this year and made him more of a role player. Jaire stated that this has been mentally challenging because of what people are saying about his play and how he feels he is preforming.

    Bullying in sports can have a major impact on an athlete's mental health. Different types of bullying in sports, whether it’s through verbal insults or exclusion, create an environment filled with fear and insecurity. When athletes are bullied, they often start to doubt their abilities and pull away from their teammates. This can cause them to feel disconnected and alone rather then feeling safe and together with their team. Over time, these feelings can seriously affect an athlete’s self-esteem and overall mental health. In many cases, athletes who experience bullying may develop anxiety, depression, or even stress that makes it harder for them to enjoy or even participate in their sport. Instead of feeling supported, they start to approach sports with pressure and negativity. What used to be fun and exciting for them can turn into something they dread, and some may even decide to quit altogether like the example in the first paragraph. Understanding how bullying affects mental health is important if we want to create safe, positive sports environments where all athletes can grow and succeed.

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    Some people believe that mental health in sports “isn’t real” and that athletes just need to toughen up. They think that because sports are competitive and physically demanding, athletes should automatically be strong enough to handle stress, criticism, and pressure. From this point of view, struggling with anxiety or emotions means an athlete is weak instead of facing a real problem. However, this way of thinking ignores the huge expectations athletes deal with every day. Hard training, constant competition, strict coaching, and public judgment can create a lot of pressure that can affect anyone, no matter how physically fit they are. Being an athlete doesn’t make someone immune to mental health issues. In fact, pretending these struggles don’t exist can make things worse and cause athletes to feel alone or ashamed. While resilience is important in sports, dismissing mental health needs can stop athletes from getting the help they need. Recognizing mental health challenges doesn’t make athletes “soft”, it supports their overall well being, helps them perform better in their sport and allows them to continue enjoying what they love doing and thats playing sports. 

    Athletes experience intense pressure which can take a significant emotional toll on them. The need to perform every time, fear of failure, public embarrassment and being expected to present themselves as “mentally tough” can create tons of stress. When athletes feel they cannot share their struggles or fear they will be seen as weak for sharing, the problems of anxiety or depression can deteriorate silently, without any solutions. According to Athletes For Hope  around 70% of athletes that suffer from mental problems do not end up going to talk to someone to get help.  Mental health issues do not go away without support, and in some cases, they worsen and contribute to death by suicide. There was a 9 year study done by PMC where they tracked the deaths of NCAA athletes and how they passed. According to the study there was a total of 477 deaths that occurred in 3,773,309 different sporting seasons. 35 of those deaths were because of suicide (7.3%). The reasoning of all of the suicides all led back to some sort of bullying or harassing that was going on in that athletes life. It is essential to understand that mental health is just as important as physical health to protect the well being of an athlete and prevent these tragedies, which should never occur.

   PMC

 

    Athletes have ways to support mental health challenges before they escalate. They have the option to work with a sports psychologist or a licensed therapist who has personal experience with sports and mental health and will provide ways to deal with stress and emotions while competing. Many teams today have in place a mental health program that includes counseling and wellness check-ins and support groups where athletes are allowed to come together in a safe space to talk about their problems and obtain advice. A strong social support group, such as teammates, coaches, family, and friends, may also help to reduce feelings of loneliness. 

     Mental health in sports is an issue that can no longer be brushed aside. Professional athletes like Jaire Alexander, who step away from the game, and everyday athletes who silently struggle, show and prove that these pressures and bullying within sports come with deadly consequences. The emotional weight from expectations of performance, public criticism, and toxic team environments can ultimately lead to anxiety, depression, and even suicide when athletes do not get the support they need. But these outcomes are preventable. By acknowledging that mental health is as real and important as physical health, providing access to therapy for athletes, giving them supportive teammates, and offering them a safe space to talk about what they are going through. When athletes feel understood and supported, they perform better while maintaining a positive well-being and love for the game. Prioritizing mental health isn't a weakness in character but a protection of life.