Athlete Mental health resources

October is Mental Health Awareness Month and last week marked the nationally recognized Student Athlete Mental Health Week. Each year 1,000 college students commit suicide, making suicide the second leading cause of death for college students. In the past few years, there has been an uptick in NCAA student-athlete suicide shining a light on the need to prioritize mental health in athletics. The conversation surrounding athlete mental health as also gained attention following the advocacy from athletes such as Simone Biles, Kevin Love, and Michael Phelps. If you or someone you know is struggling, I wanted to provide a place to highlight some of the organizations doing the work to provide help and prioritize the person before the player.

The Hidden Opponent (THO): The Hidden Opponent is non-profit and advocacy group that raises awareness for student-athlete mental health and addresses the stigma within sports culture. The Hidden Opponent notes than an estimated 92% of colleges still don't have adequate support for athletes where mental and physical health remain on separate playing fields, despite calls from Athletic trainers and other medical professionals to realize how connected the two are for athlete success. THO recognizes the need for open and honest dialogue when it comes to athlete mental health and currently have a presence in all 50 states and at some international locations.

Morgan's Message: Morgan's Message was created after NCAA Duke Lacrosse player Morgan Rodgers died by suicide in 2019. Morgan’s Message strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and aims to expand the dialogue on mental health by normalizing conversations, empowering those who suffer in silence, and supporting those who feel alone.

For LGBTQ+ athletes, the Trevor Project provides notes the added obstacles and social stressors that are placed on the queer community. The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ youth (13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S., finding that 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the year 2022. With attacks on LGBTQ youth, notably transgender athletes, it is important to recognize the disproportionate ways in which LGBTQ+ athletes suffer from prejudice in and out of sport.

For more stories and resources, please see my documentary "Head in The Game" in honor of Robert Martin, a Binghamton Lacrosse player who died by suicide in 2022.

To any athlete struggling, know that you are more than your sport and #YouAreNotAlone.