Student athletes face alarming rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other mental health challenges. The pressures of being a student athlete are impacted by peer, family members, coaches, and a strive for excellence. The realities of competition, public scrutiny, overtraining, and injury risk can feel overwhelming and insurmountable. No matter the school age-college, high school,
Student athletes face alarming rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other mental health challenges. The pressures of being a student athlete are impacted by pressure from peers, family members, coaches, and a strive towards excellence. The realities of competition, public scrutiny, overtraining, and risk of injury can feel overwhelming and insurmountable. No matter the school age-college, high school, or elementary school-it is imperative all athletes have the resources to treat their mental health through support, counseling, peers, and acknowledgment of the stigma individuals with mental illness experience. In our high-performance, achievement-oriented culture it is imperative we foster internal motivation and healthy relationships that can sustain an athlete both on and off the field, court, pool, and arena.