By Trevor West
Contributor
When Tatum Shaw, a Trevecca women’s basketball player, tore tendons in her knee that kept her out of play for two years, she said one of the biggest struggles in her recovery was maintaining her mental health.
“Not being able to play my sport took a huge toll on my mental health, as this was my first major injury,” she said. “It’s hard watching your team from the sidelines and trying to stay positive in an atmosphere you used to be so involved in.”
Shaw said supportive friends, invested coaches and seeking help at the Trevecca counseling center all helped her rehab and both her mind and body.
“I think the biggest challenge I have faced is feeling confident in my training and athleticism. Jumping back into collegiate sports after being out for so long is intimidating at times and allows for a lot of comparison to how you played before or in relation to your teammates,” said Shaw.
A recent national study conducted by the NCAA shows neary 35% of all college students experience serious mental health struggles and nearly 30% of them seek help.
But that number dips drastically for college athletes–only about 10% seek mental health help.
The NCAA has been closely tracking the mental health of athletes, particularly since COVID. In their latest report “Student Athlete Mental Health Data,” they found that athletes report fewer mental health concerns since COVID, but they still feel uncomfortable asking for help on most campuses.
Mark Elliott, Trevecca’s athletic director, is aware of the numbers and has been focused on making sure Trevecca athletes are aware of the resources on campus.
He makes sure athletes know about the counseling center on campus and Trevecca’s telehealth service, TimelyCare, which allows you to connect with a primary care provider or specialist for the same consultation and services as an in-person visit.
“We have a welcome back at the beginning of the school year where we have educational lessons where we would bring everyone who works at the counseling center, and they talk to our athletes about mental health and give them resources,” said Elliott.
According to the NCAA report, athletes with injuries can feel significant loss and grief and develop depression or anxiety. Other causes of mental health issues for athletes include issues around disordered eating, overtraining and sleep disorders.
Shaw said it is often the accumulation of all the things student athletes have to juggle.
“A lot of it has been just the workload that gets put on us. From weights, practices, games, film and community service—on top of the pressure to perform well and win games while maintaining good grades and having a life outside of your sport—can get very stressful and be very demanding,” she said. “Sometimes it feels like there just isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done or do the things that you want to do.”
Crayton Coan, staff counselor at the counseling center, said counselors on campus have experience working with athletes. Coan said he knows athletes face a lot of pressure and some athletes can be hesitant to seek help and that are stereotypes about needing to be tough.
“There is no weakness in getting help with your mental health,” said Coan. “It’s a normal thing, and it can be scary to sign up and we understand that. We are here to make sure you are comfortable and safe. It’s a non judgemental space.”