Athlete Mental Health Week

                  Last week was Athlete Mental Health Week. I missed it, but I will try to make up for it today. Athletics has been a part of my life and obviously mental health is a major part of my life.  So, I think it is important to address mental health issues faced by athletes. I have written about athletes and mental health in past posts, but it has been a while. If you are interested check out my previous posts, Mental Health: Loud and Clear at the Olympics, Sports and Mental Health, and  Mental Health on the Injury Report. 

                  Athlete Mental Health Week 2026 was celebrated February 2-8. It is sponsored by Athletes for Hope. According to their website the purpose of Athlete Mental Health Week is to “amplify voices, break stigma, and put mental health first in sport.”  This is the third year Athlete Mental Health Week  has been celebrated. Athletes for Hope brought together organizations and athletes to share real stories and prioritize mental health, 

                  There is a history of mental health being overlooked in sports. So, often athletes are thought of as “tough guys”. They are expected to push through tough times and perform. Unfortunately, a lot of this still exists. Athletes are supposed to be strong. They are supposed to push themselves to the limit. But athletes are human and just like anyone else, they need to be able to care for their mental health.

                  Fortunately, there are many athletes who have stepped up and spoken about mental health and encouraged athletes of all ages to take care of their mental health. I just listen to Kelsey Plum, a guard on the WNBA Los Sparks team. She mentions how her journey has involved ups and downs with her mental health. She offers advice to young athletes. I think it is important for young athletes to hear from college and professional athletes who have dealt with mental health issues. As we listen to athletes share their stories, we are able to see that it is important to take care of our mental health.

                  Many athletes speak about mental health including Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, Michael Phelps, Kevin Love, and Dak Prescott. Others include Aly Raisman, Noah Lyles, Ronda Rousey, Serena Williams, DeMar DeRozan, and Tyson Fury. The list goes on. If all these athletes are willing to step forward and talk about their mental health, I think it is important that we listen to what they have to say. As they share their experiences, they are breaking down the stigma that surrounds mental health, not just in sports, but in all areas of life. 

                  As I write this, the Superbowl is on in the background. It made wonder if there are NFL players speaking about mental health. I found a list of eight NFL players who have shared their experience with mental health. I’ll share two of them. I mentioned Dak Prescott, who is the Dallas Cowboys quarterback. He has spoken about the distress he experienced as a result of his mother’s death, the COVID -19 pandemic, and his brother’s death by suicide. He shared that he experienced anxiety. When his brother died, Dak realized that he needed to reach out for help; This led him to create the Ask 4 Help campaign in 2021, which is intended to prioritize mental health and stop the epidemic of suicide.

                  AJ Brown is another NFL player who has shared his experience with mental health issues. He shared that he dealt with depression and suicidal thoughts. He has talked about going to therapy. He offered advice to those in emotional pain, “Especially men, get things off your chest. It’s okay to talk to someone. Seek help. You’re not too tough to talk to someone.”

                  Gymnast Simone Biles and tennis player Naomi Osaka both took breaks from major competition to address their mental health. People questioned how they could step away from the Olympics and French open, respectively. These young women knew their mental health was more important than any medal or trophy. Swimmer Michael Phelps has advocated for addressing depression and suicidal thoughts among elite athletes. NBA basketball player, Kevin Love has been vocal about his experiences with panic attacks and depression. Aly Raisman is another gymnast who has spoken openly about mental health as she discussed anxiety and healing from trauma. Noah Lyles, a track and field athlete, advocates for prioritizing mental health in athletics. Ronda Rousey, the MMA star, shared her struggles with depression. The tennis great, Serena Williams has been open about her experience with post-partum depression and burnout. Another basketball player who has been open about his struggles with depression is DeMar Rozan. Boxer Tyson Fury speaks about his struggles with bipolar disorder.

                  These athletes are just a few of the athletes who have spoken about mental health. I think it is becoming more common for athletes to share their experiences as the stigma surrounding mental health is broken down. As they speak, they help further break down that stigma. It is important that young athletes hear their stories. There is a lot of pressure on young athletes. Children are experiencing the pressures of athletic performance at a young age. It used to be we had youth sports, then high school sports, followed by college athletics. Now, youth sports is being replaced by travel teams with a focus on developing high level athletes. Kids are finding a sport and training year-round on travel ball teams. While I can see the value in these opportunities, I question how much pressure is placed on these young athletes. There is so much pressure to succeed, to be the top in their sport. College scholarships are on the line. Are these kids given emotional support? Are they helped with the emotional side of sports? It seems like adults are placing unrealistic expectations on kids. If they are playing their sport year-round, when do they get to just be kids? 

                  Sports play a major role in culture throughout the world. Sports are on a world stage right now with the Winter Olympics. My hope is that athletes are provided with the tools to deal with their emotions. When they struggle with their mental health, athletes of all ages need to be provided with the support they need. As fans we need to remember that athletes are human. They experience ups and downs. Atheltes need to know it is okay to seek help for their mental health. I am grateful to the athletes who have spoken publicly about mental health. I appreciate the athletes who reach out for help. 

                  Athletes are not superhuman. Mental health issues can affect them just the same as it can affect anyone. So, thank you to the athletes who have spoken out. Thank you to those who have listen and continue to support these athletes. 

                  If you are struggling with your mental health, whether you are an athlete or not, I urge you to reach out for help. You can speak to your primary care provider. You can reach out to a mental health care provider. You can call the 988 hotline. There is help available. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength. There is no weakness in saying, “I am not okay.”