How are student athletes struggling with their mental health?

Benedict M.

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How are student athletes struggling with their mental health?

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Student athlete, mental health, well-being, influence, academic performance, team mates, wellness, management of stress, training programs, emotional side, competitive participation, resilience, social experiences, support networks

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Students' athletes bear the burden of performing academically and in sports, which puts pressure on their lives. The pressure to succeed comes from different parties, such as their teammates, coaches, tutors and parents. This creates pressure, anxiety, stress and self-doubt among the students, as they are afraid of failure. Due to the pressure, student athletes become overwhelmed and experience depression, anxiety disorders and burnout as features of mental health challenges. Managing the ongoing competition for performance implies the use of adequate coping skills and having support systems at hand. Student-athletes must be able to handle stress, develop resilience, and give priority to mental health along with the demanding training and school programs they have to deal with. Mental health resources, counseling services, and supportive surroundings play a critical role in helping student-athletes face up to the challenges they encounter. Through recognition and elimination of the factors that negatively affect the mental health of athletes under performance pressure and the creation of an environment for their physical, mental, social, and emotional wellness, the institutions will help athletes achieve sustainable performance success while being mentally healthy.

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[...] The identity of a student-athlete is often wrapped around their performances on the field, which consequently determines their self-esteem and the purpose of their lives. Being successful in sports helps them with self-esteem and allows them to build their identity. Nevertheless, there are also challenges like not making a team, inadequate performance or the process of transitioning from competitive sports, which can lead to a severe identity crisis. These troubles can encourage feelings such as cluelessness, self-doubt, and the loss of one's purpose among athletes as they strive to transition to their athletic identification. [...]

[...] To overcome these obstacles, student-athletes have to learn some skills that will help them to rank essential tasks first while at the same time focusing on self-care and management of stress. Coaches and academic advisers play an essential part in the process of informing student-athletes about the necessity of balancing both academic and athletic success with adequate use of time. This is also aimed at well-being. Training programs that include a strategy of resilience building can play an essential role in helping students adapt to challenges appropriately. Sports injuries are frequent for student-athletes, causing them both physical and psychological repercussions. [...]

[...] Some institutions might lack the necessary recourses or support systems to provide student-athletes with the required mental health care that is expected. It may be indicated by the mental health stigma that typically prevents student-athletes from asking for help or revealing their sadness. Inadequacy of student-athletes mental health support systems, along with stigma, reinforces existing problems, affecting their overall health and athletic performance. Establishing a holistic, inclusive and mental health-friendly environment that acknowledges education, awareness and resources by engaging all the stakeholders is extremely important in closing this gap. [...]

[...] Mental health problems in elite sport: the difference in the distribution of mental distress and mental disorders among a sample of Norwegian elite athletes. BMJ Open Sports Exercise Medicine. 3. Henriksen Schinke Moesch et al. (2020). Consensus statemnent on improving the mental health of high-performance athletes. Int J Sport Exerc Psychol. 553-600. Kessler RC, Abelson Demler et al. (2004) The World Mental Health (WMH) survey initiative version of the World Health Organization (WHO) Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. [...]

[...] Implementing the measures to overcome these hindrances and fostering a climate of mental well-being will make learning centres a place where athletes are appreciated, supported, and encouraged to reach their highest goals. This makes mental health support investment necessary not only on a personal level for the student-athletes but also at the community level for athletic people who are aimed at well-being, resilience and success. References Gouttebarge Hopley Kerkhoffs et al. (2017). Symptoms of common mental disorders in professional Rugby: an international observational descriptive study. Int J Sports Med. 70-86. [...]

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