The battle off the field: More student-athlete's are seeking help with mental health
WACH Fox
Everyday life has changed for many in 2020. The average work day is now based at home rather than in offices across industry workforces. For athletes though, it's business as usual. The sport of their choice, often provides an escape from reality when playing inside the lines.
But when the clock hits zero, student-athletes namely, are experiencing stiff competition from mental tolls from a difficult year. 2020 has included a global pandemic due to COVID-19, an upcoming presidential election, and frequent protesting of racial injustice. Dr. Bailey Nevels, the head of Clemson Athletic's Department of Psychological Health Services for student-athlete's says these factors have some student-athletes on edge.
"It's tough, what's going on in our world and the division," Dr. Nevels told WACH FOX Sports Director Mitch Brown. "When you're depressed, and this is what you're seeing on the news it kind of makes it worse so we are really trying to support as best we can in those ways."
In a recent survey done in the mid-stages of the national pandemic, the NCAA surveyed 37,000 student-athlete's. The results showed that 1 in 12 student athletes said that functioning daily has been difficult due to depression. Over a third, reported experiencing sleep difficulties, while more than a quarter felt sadness and a sense of loss.
Hilinski's Hope Foundation spearheaded the inaugural College Football Mental Health Week from October 3rd-10th, and say it was a success.
"I know that the past nine months have been tough for them," Kym Hilinski said. "they've struggled with their mental health because they've been taken out of their routines, and their sport."
The mental health week, which Clemson and South Carolina, along with other major college football programs participated in isn't limited, or solely targeting football players. The foundation has hopes to extend initiatives throughout all collegiate sports. The conversation has a limitlessness scope. "All of the sport athletes, doesn't matter what the sport is, they're struggling with the same thing," Mark Hilinski said. "I think the thing that we've been able to see, that conversation about it, just talking about it with you, and others, the student-athletes see that as their norm now."
Participants in the NCAA's survey displayed that they are using resources like Dr. Nevels inside their respective athletic departments -- 60% of them to be exact. If that number continues to ascend, it can help save others struggling to grapple with their mental well-being.
