Depression and Other Common Mental Health Issues Among Elite, Former, and Student-Athletes
by Melinda Burris

This article explores the pervasiveness of common mental health disorders including depression, stress, and anxiety among elite athletes, retired professional athletes, and the growing trend of student-athletes coping with mental health challenges. We will examine scientific studies and statistics as we consider evidence of common root causes for these trends. The vital role coaches and trainers have to play by being attentive to their student-athletes and staying current on best practices for assisting those who need guidance in accessing mental healthcare resources will also be discussed.
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The Root Causes of Mental Health Issues Among Current and Former Athletes

A 2018 literature review study conducted by Sports Medicine Open focused on male elite athletes and mental health. Unsurprisingly, the investigation revealed that athletes who had been injured repeatedly and had required multiple surgeries to heal “were 2–7 times more likely to report symptoms of common mental disorders than former athletes without injury or surgery.”1 This finding suggests a correlation between an extensive history of physical injuries and complications and a negative impact on mental well-being.

•   Depression: Athletes who have suffered injury report higher depression rates than athletes who have not been injured. Athletes experiencing depression while injured frequently report feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and lack of motivation. Not surprisingly, athletes tend to incur more injures than non-athletes.1
• Current and former elite professional athletes routinely face an extreme stress load — estimated to number “in excess of 640 stressors” entailing pressures to perform well in highly competitive arenas to meet contractual and sponsorship expectations all while plotting the trajectory of their career and navigating the best path to their eventual retirement.1
•   In their discussion of the high amount of stressors elite athletes contend with over the course of their careers, the study authors point out that even if the athlete in question experienced mental health issues prior to reaching the upper echelon of their chosen sport, the high level of stress these top-tier competitors must deal with given the strenuous training regimen they must maintain and the level of psychological pressure they are continually subjected to makes it necessary “to properly consider competition-induced stress” at every stage of the athlete’s journey.1 A full evaluation must include all stages of preparation, including training, team meetings, contract and sponsorship negotiations, as well as post-play activities such as rehabilitation and recovery.1 When you contemplate all of the decisions an elite athlete must carefully ponder, then commit to, making sure they meet the requirements of their end of detailed legal agreements, all while exerting the time and energy required to maintain the physical condition and mental focus their level of play demands, it becomes easy to see how these athletes are subjected to such an enormous amount of stressors.
•   Retirement. Retirement is a major life milestone for most people, but for elite athletes, who often are recognized more for what they do rather than for who they are as a person, leaving the arena can be traumatic. The study authors assert that in extreme cases when the athlete leaves the limelight and no longer feels they are celebrated for their athletic achievements, this can lead to depression and a feeling of deep loss, anxiety, and even anger. The now-former athlete may turn to substance abuse as they struggle to cope with a sense of loss and even “feelings of worthlessness.”1 Clearly, the transition can be a difficult one, particularly if the athlete has failed to plan for life once their career as a professional athlete inevitably ends.

Modern Attitude Toward Mental Health Challenges

In the not so distant past, individuals who suffered from common mental health struggles such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, to name but a few, were often stigmatized, looked down upon, or chastised as somehow being “weak” for not being able to overcome their illnesses without proper professional treatment. Thankfully, attitudes have shifted as the public has been educated. Most people now understand that every person dealing with a medical condition, be it physical or mental, has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

The Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders in the U.S.

Perhaps this new empathy for those who suffer from mental health disorders is due in part to the fact that more people are facing these challenges. Statistics from a survey conducted in 2011 revealed that “more than 41 million U.S. adults over the age of 18 (about 18 percent) had a mental disorder” . . . nearly 75% of those diagnosed with a mental illness experience “their first onset by [the] age of 24.”2

This is an important statistic to note because a) it means that student-athletes are experiencing mental illness and need assistance coping and getting appropriate treatment; and b) as coaches and trainers, it is important to be aware that our student-athletes are at risk for common mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety so that we can be vigilant about looking for symptoms and make sure we stay current on the best resources available to aid students.

Making Resources Readily Available for Students in Need

The NCAA Sport Science Institute has openly committed to providing the resources and training necessary “to improve student-athlete access to quality mental healthcare with the goal of creating a culture where care seeking for mental health issues is viewed as normative as care seeking for physical injuries.”3

A primary component of the NCAA’s Sport Science Institute’s initiative to destigmatize the acknowledgment of mental health struggles hinges upon properly educating all members of the campus athletics community from student-athletes to coaches up to faculty athletics representatives through the organization’s interactive website. The site offers educational modules that offer guidance for each member of the community so if they are seeking assistance, they can readily find resources. Coaches and other staff seeking information on how to best offer help to a student-athlete who appears to be struggling can easily access informative data such as quick fact sheets on common mental health conditions and even step by step mental health toolkit videos, as well as access to best practices to dealing with suspected mental illness in a timely, compassionate manner to ensure the best outcome.

References:

1. Souter, G., Lewis, R., & Serrant, L. (2018). Men, Mental Health and Elite Sport: A Narrative Review. 

2. Davoren, A.K. and Hwang. S. (8 October 2014). Mind, Body and Sport: Depression and Anxiety Prevalence in Student-Athletes.
3. NCAA Sport Science Institute. (n.d.). Mental Health.

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