This World Mental Health Day, we all have a role to play in tackling the youth mental health crisis. Students, families, and schools can all work together to invest in the future, break the stigma, and increase awareness.
The Intersection of Mental Health & Athletics
Two years ago, Simone Biles did not take the Olympic floor. And in doing so, she made the biggest impact of her career. She started an essential conversation about mental health in sports and in society. Any one of the long list of accomplishments Biles has achieved in her career takes a lot of strength and perseverance. But walking away with all eyes on her because it was best for her health, for her team, and for the millions of people watching required another level of bravery entirely.
She knew she needed to prioritize her own wellness. She knew her mental health mattered as much as her physical health. She knew she could not jeopardize herself to live up to everyone else’s expectations. What she may not have realized, though, was how important that decision would prove for the rest of the world. Undoubtedly, Simone Biles is a champion – For every time she stepped on the mat and for the time she stepped back.
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, 35% of elite athletes suffer from eating disorders, burnout, anxiety, depression, and more. Such data suggests an increased risk of living with mental health conditions for high-level athletes compared to the one in five average U.S. adults doing so. While mental health can affect anyone at any time, the stressful culture, lifestyle requirements, competitive environment, and social stigmas associated with sports can subject players to significant triggers.
A commonly accepted theory by psychologists, called the diathesis-stress model, proposes that individuals hold a predisposition toward certain conditions, but the symptoms often lie dormant until aggravated by stress. Since sports reward toughness and perfectionism, athletes often feel discouraged from “taking it easy” or asking for help. Former San Francisco 49er observed, “It’s like you are being judged for everything you do.” The pressure of being constantly observed and measured can become overwhelming.
The Positive Impact of Sports
On the flip side, even with the risk factors, sports also bring with them benefits to mental wellness. Exercise induces pleasure through the release of endorphins, leading to feelings of happiness and relaxation. Engaging in physical activity also keeps the mind occupied, which can steer thoughts away from worries and anxieties. Additionally, participating in sports can improve sleep, build confidence, and enhance social skills. It provides athletes with team building and leadership opportunities, teaching them how to work together to achieve a goal.
In summary, regular exercise plays an important role in a healthy lifestyle. But in higher levels of athletics, the increased scrutiny can also create detrimental side effects to one’s state of mind. To balance the two, athletes need to better understand their mental health with deeper awareness and more spaces to talk about it.
Everyone Has a Role to Play
Open conversations about mental health are even more essential when it comes to our kids. In 2021, the Surgeon General put out a youth mental health advisory outlining the weight of the crisis from before COVID-19, as well as the additional risk factors created by the pandemic. To tackle the prevalence of these issues everyone must do their part. The solution will not come overnight, but we can all invest in a future full of wellness and resilience.
What Young People Can Do
The entire responsibility for improving the mental wellbeing of youth cannot live on their own shoulders, especially since many of the challenges they face exist outside their control, but they can take steps toward bettering their health. It starts with recognizing that mental health struggles are a real, common, treatable part of life that is not their fault. Next, they can examine their own emotions to pinpoint situations that negatively impact them and find strategies for managing those areas before the problem arises.
Physical wellness and social connection also play key roles in mental health. Therefore, kids should develop healthy habits such as a nutritious diet, regular exercise, quality sleep, and time outdoors. They should also invest in relationships. Making space for loved ones can lower stress, and being a source of support for others can improve one’s own wellbeing. Additionally, social media, video games, and other technology can either become a positive outlet or an impairment to kids, depending on how they use them. So, adopting intentional online behaviors balanced with offline activities is essential.
While young people can do a lot themselves, the most important part for anyone who is struggling or knows someone struggling to remember is that aid is out there. Whether it comes from a trusted adult, family member, friend, school staff member, mental health professional, or other qualified institution, seeking help saves lives.
What Families Can Do
Safe, nurturing environments for youth start with their caregivers and family members. The first step to encourage mental wellness in children is to lead by example. We all learn behaviors and habits from those around us. When older role models practice good mental hygiene, it will trickle down. Stable relationships between youth and the trusted adults in their lives build a strong foundation for the future. It is important to spend time with kids doing what they enjoy, showing them love and acceptance, praising them for what they do well, listening to them as equals, and communicating with them openly. As strong connections are encouraged at home, youth will also form similarly healthy bonds with peers.
Additionally, engaging healthcare professionals can help adults monitor the wellness of the children in their care. Regular check-ups can prevent problems, as well as diagnose and treat both physical and mental illnesses. Doctors, nurses, therapists, and other resources can also help screen for signs of distress. Look out for:
- Prolonged bouts of sadness or irritability
- Extreme mood swings
- Excessive worrying or intense fear
- Social withdrawal
- Dramatic eating or sleeping changes
- Angry outbursts
- Delusions or hallucinations
- Inability to cope with daily stresses
- Suicidal thoughts
- Unexplained physical ailments
- Substance use
The more those around young people invest in supportive neighborhoods and communities, the stronger their wellness will grow. Becoming a voice for mental health allows others to also see its value. Greater funding and advocacy can make a huge impact within schools, sports teams, churches, libraries, and other organizations frequented by youth. But oftentimes, it begins at home.
What Schools Can Do
Since students spend a large amount of time at school, their experiences within the academic halls can majorly impact their mental health. There they learn new knowledge and skills, develop close relationships, and find a sense of purpose and belonging. But they may also face bullying, academic stress, or a lack of resources. Educators can limit the negative factors and reinforce the positive influences on kids by creating positive, safe, and affirming environments for all students. This may include anti-bullying policies, bystander intervention programs, and proactive discussions about mental health.
Schools can also encourage the mental health of their personnel through realistic workloads, ideal student-to-staff ratios, competitive wages, professional development opportunities, and regular wellness assessments. When educators feel supported, they can more effectively turn around and build equally positive classrooms. Additionally, training programs exist to teach school staff members how to identify signs of health concerns among students, including trauma or behavior changes. Furthermore, schools can invest in mental health workers within their buildings. School counselors, nurses, social workers, and school psychologists can lead the charge in recognizing students undergoing mental health challenges and providing them the aid they need.
While we may be in the midst of an increasingly alarming youth mental health crisis, plenty of resources exist to combat it. And the path toward a stronger future of mental wellness is a team sport. Everyone from the young people themselves to the adults, media, technology companies, governments, foundations, and other organizations around them are on the starting lineup in the fight to break the stigma and increase awareness.
Helpful Resources for World Mental Health Day
https://988lifeline.org/ – Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if you or someone you know is in distress
https://standforthesilent.org/
https://hopesquad.com/
https://jedfoundation.org/mental-health-resource-center/
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/other/dbasse/wellbeing-tools/interactive/
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/
https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults
https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/our-work/focus-areas/public-health/substance-use/
https://aakomaproject.org/resources/
Additional Article Sources
https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/youth-mental-health/index.html
https://mhanational.org/recognizing-warning-signs-and-how-cope
https://www.cdc.gov/howrightnow/
https://engage.youth.gov/
https://www.betterup.com/blog/mental-health-in-athletes https://www.advancedsportsandspine.com/the-mental-benefits-of-sports/
Recent Comments