Mental Health Stigma in Football

By LEYDN MCEVOY ‘20
Football demands serious physical and mental toughness at every level. Because of the sport’s violence and difficulties, coaches and trainers continually monitor the physical well-being of athletes. The mental health of athletes, however, is often overlooked by many college programs and professional teams. College programs need to adopt more mental health oriented care for college athletes.

Given the toughness of the sport, disregarding the mental health challenges presented to football players is relatively easy. Collegiate athletic programs do not adequately acknowledge the mental barriers for football players and other athletes. The little professional care available makes it difficult for athletes to receive the help they need. According to ESPN, fewer than 39 Division I schools have full-time licensed mental health practitioners available in the athletic departments, as of January 2016. Although some sports’ communities have begun to recognize the mental challenges presented to athletes, many students still lack adequate support.

The most notable difficulty for college athletes is the adjustment process. Adjusting to a new environment is an underacknowledged aspect of a transition to a college team. Although college athletes experience anxiety and depression at slightly lower rates than their non-athlete counterparts, according to an American College Health Association survey, athletes were the students less likely to seek help. The unrecognized difficulties of new collegiate level athletes has fostered an environment that disregards the personal needs of each player.

I think that the lack of resources for athletes is largely due to the widespread belief that all athletes must be tough. These traditionally masculine ideals and behaviors make it difficult for athletes to feel accepted. National Collegiate Athletic Association chief medical officer, Brian Hainline, argues that “the stereotype is that student-athletes are tough somehow or more put together than others.” More sports communities need to begin to recognize the mental strains of their athletes and embrace the change that is needed to benefit the performance of their teams. The emphasis of most teams on performance over the individual needs of each player can be detrimental to the well-being of athletes. Though the NCAA  advocates for mental health services to athletes, policies for such services and care are not mandated. Helping athletes succeed requires a concerted effort that begins at the institutional level. Incorporating professional mental help could prove to be successful for both individual and team performance. Only then can athletes deal with their overlooked struggles and receive the help they need.