Invisible Injuries – A Look Into Mental Health in Student-Athletes

By Emily Cotton
Staff writer
thehutchinsoncollegian@gmail.com

Only about 7 percent of high school athletes go on to compete at the collegiate level. Being a part of that small percentage is difficult. It comes with long days and hard practices, being homesick and not being able to go home.

Being a collegiate-level student-athlete can be taxing on both the body and the mind. Athletes are generally thought of as the healthiest of our society, yet the pressures of school, expectations in practice and competition, time demands and injury can lead to depression, mental health problems and even suicide.

According to British Journal of Sports Medicine, the suicide rate for college athletes has doubled in just two decades. After speaking with coaches, mental health professionals and athletes themselves, it is clear that these pressures aren’t just statistics – they are lived realities.

Balancing the pressures of school and sport can lead to feelings of isolation and a struggle to find balance in their identities, as many athletes’ sense of self becomes intertwined with their athletic performance. While physical health is the primary focus for athletes, mental health often goes overlooked. Yet, many student athletes report feeling symptoms of anxiety, depression and even eating disorders.

“Athletes have a lot of additional pressure. For many student-athletes this is their one chance to get out of a rough place and this is how they make or break who they are,” said Bailey Goodman, a mental health and social work intern at Hutchinson Community College. “So not only do they face the stressors that every college student faces, like academics and finances they also face the fear of failure.”

There is a cultural expectation that athletes must appear strong and resilient both physically and mentally. This expectation creates a perception that admitting to mental health struggles is a sign of weakness, often preventing athletes from seeking help.

“Because of the stigma around mental health in athletics, when we do have athletes come in, they are at their limit, and because this stigma to remain strong has impacted them so much, they are afraid to reach out,” Goodman said.

In interviews, many athletes echoed this sentiment, reluctant to admit mental health struggles. “I’m not a bitch, and don’t want to be seen as one,” said one HutchCC athlete, who wanted to remain anonymous about their mental-health struggles.

This intense pressure to be “tough” forces athletes to suppress their struggles, allowing issues like anxiety and depression to build up. This not only affects their ability to perform but also intensifies the sense of isolation that so many athletes feel. In sports, they tell you the team is family, but when it comes to things like mental health, they often feel as if they’re on their own. The result of this stigma to be “tough” and “resilient” breeds silence around mental health, all while athletes are struggling.

For many athletes, their worth is tied to their ability to compete, and when that is taken away from them due to an injury, it can feel like losing a core part of who they are.

Physical injuries present significant challenges that directly impact athletes’ mental well being. Goodman worked as a student athletic trainer during her time at HutchCC and says “being in the training room, you see both sides of it, the mental and the physical, but a lot of us are only trained for the physical.”

Da’Shawn Lester, a track and field athlete at HutchCC said a recent injury he sustained actually helped him.

“My hamstring injury just made me stronger,” Lester said. “It was my first injury and I knew I’d get back.”

While some athletes, like Lester, might view their injuries as a challenge to overcome, others struggle to regain not only their physical strength but their sense of self-worth. For many, serious injuries aren’t just a minor setback, it can become a long-term battle. A lot of times, athletes push through the physical pain, but the mental toll can be just as severe.

When athletes feel disconnected from their sport it can trigger feelings of depression, anxiety, and fear of losing their place on the team or in their sport. Injuries can lead to a kind of isolation, both physically, as athletes are sidelined from their teammates, and mentally, as they struggle with self doubt and the pressure to return quickly. While injuries pose a clear challenge, the mental toll can often be mitigated by a strong support system.

Mental health struggles can lead to feelings of loneliness, however the importance of a strong support system shouldn’t be overlooked. While facing these challenges, having a network of coaches, teammates, friends and mental health professionals can make all the difference. Unfortunately, not all athletes have access to the support they may need, and even those who do may still find it difficult to reach out. It is important for teammates and coaches to look for the signs an athlete may be struggling.

Goodman says some of these signs include “being withdrawn, a shift in character or attitude, and even being quiet.

“If an athlete is getting frustrated faster, or lashing out on the field, these may be something super minor but that’s usually a sign to check in.”

Samantha Cox, the spirit squad coach for HutchCC said that signs of someone struggling are pervasive.

“Being late, being unprepared, seeming checked out during practice, not being their typical self, and grades slipping,” are the signs Cox looks for when an athlete may be struggling.

The NCAA says that individual sports such as track and field of golf have the highest levels of depression (35%).

“In track, you are just trying to improve yourself and there’s a short competitive season with high expectations that leads to constant comparisons,” Lester said.

My mom is my support system, and having someone to talk to can help ease the pressure of  being a student athlete.”

However, not every athlete has a strong support network outside of their sport.

“Some athletes face additional pressure from back home, adding to the stress,” Goodman said. While personal support systems like family and friends are important, the presence of supportive coaches and teammates is equally essential when these outside networks are limited or strained. In cases where athletes don’t feel supported at home, or struggle to balance the pressures from their personal lives with their athletic commitments, the team environment can make all the difference. A culture of trust and understanding within the team can help alleviate feelings of isolation and being encouraging when athletes are seeking help.

Coaches, in particular, have a unique influence. When they prioritize their athletes’ mental well being along with physical performance, it can set the tone for the entire team to value and prioritize mental health.

“Mental health plays a big role in my coaching philosophy, because you can’t coach every athlete the same way,” Cox said. “Some athletes need a different strategy versus others, and I feel like if you only have one approach for everybody, your approach could either be taken negatively or more intense versus what that athlete may need.”

Cox encourages openness around mental health with her athletes.

“I like to be pretty in tune with my athletes, if they are going through something personally I like to chat with them one on one if they feel comfortable talking to me about it,” Cox said. “Or if they need to take a step back before jumping back in, I want them to do that to ensure they are being their healthiest.”

Not all programs and coaches encourage this openness. Some programs focus so intensely on winning that mental health is put on the backburner, making it harder for athletes to reach out even when they are suffering. For some, the environment can either become a source of support, or amplify the pressure to “tough it out”.

Ultimately, a coach’s ability to create a safe, supportive environment can be the difference between an athlete struggling in silence and one who feels empowered to seek help.

The NCAA has provided coaches with advice on mental health issues, saying “the best practices include creating healthy environments, using mental health screening tools, and having action plans for referrals to qualified providers.” The NCAA has found that mental health is a critical issue among coaches. With coaches being educated and informed on mental health they can help athletes see that it’s OK to not be “tough” all the time. It can encourage athletes to seek help if they need it, and to prioritize mental health just as much as their physical well-being.

On top of balancing practice, travel commitments, and physical demands, athletes are also tasked with maintaining academics.

This challenge becomes especially daunting during the season when games and competitions are in full swing. Maintaining a good GPA can be an overwhelming challenge.

“Maintaining grades, especially trying to get the B average our coaches want,” Lester said. Those grades are often tied to scholarship eligibility, which is one of the most difficult parts of being a college athlete. A lot of the time, keeping up with grades can be just as mentally taxing as the pressures of competition, especially when academic success is essential for staying on the team or receiving scholarships.

For community college athletes, such as those at HutchCC, good grades are a must. Many two-year school athletes are working hard to maintain strong academic records in hopes of advancing to a Division II or I school, which can add even more pressure to their already demanding schedules. The difficulty of balancing both academic and athletic responsibilities often leads to a burnout. The constant juggle between the classroom and the game can create a sense of pressure that seems never-ending. As a result of this balancing act many student-athletes report lack of time for self-care or social activities, which can exacerbate feelings of isolation and loneliness. The constant stress from trying to perform well both academically and athletically can make athletes feel like they’re never doing enough. The fear of academic failure or falling behind in coursework can be devastating for athletes who see their sport as a pathway for their future. The threat of losing eligibility to compete due to poor grades can bring on additional stress, especially when athletes are already facing mental fatigue.

This vicious cycle of stress can make it hard for athletes to perform at their highest level, both in competition and in the classroom. For many the constant pressure can lead to a sense of inadequacy when they feel as though they are not excelling in both areas simultaneously.

‘Give yourself a break, give yourself grace, no one is perfect,” Goodman said. “Just because you are an athlete, just because you’re a team leader does not mean you don’t struggle and that does not mean you have to be strong for everyone. Everybody struggles and if you want to be a role model to your teammates or you loved ones or even to littles ones around the world that want to someday be in your place, you have to take care of yourself.”

College athletes carry many expectations on their shoulders while silently facing challenges that many don’t see. These challenges aren’t just individual battles – they reflect a larger culture in athletics that has historically equated vulnerability with weakness. However, this narrative is starting to shift.

Growing awareness, access to counseling services, and advocacy from supportive coaches and teammates are creating spaces where athletes can seek help without fear of judgment. The NCAA, as of early 2024 included a section in their constitution about mental health. This was the first time in history mental health was mentioned in their constitution. Schools across all divisions are now legislatively required to provide student-athletes mental health resources and education consistent with the Mental Health Best Practices guidelines by the NCAA. This inclusion of mental health in the NCAA’s constitution marks a significant step forward. It not only acknowledges the challenges but also commits to addressing them, reinforcing the message that mental health is as crucial as physical health.

As more institutions adopt and implement mental health programs, the hope is that student-athletes will feel empowered to seek help without fear of stigma or judgment.

“It’s not talked about exactly what everybody is going through, but everyone tends to go through something,” Cox said. “And watching somebody go through the depths of their mental health and come out on the other side is really influential. Watching somebody handle it so well and so graciously is truly inspiring to watch.”

By acknowledging the struggles and celebrating the resilience of athletes who have overcome their mental health challenges, we can create an environment where seeking help is seen as a sign of strength.

For all HutchCC students, athletes included, there is free counseling at the Student Success Center located in the Parker Student Union. To schedule an appointment, stop by the Student Success Center or call (620) 665-3377. Victory and defeat are part of the game, but your mind is not the price you should pay.

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