When You Can’t Just Tough It Out
The mental health challenge of student-athletes
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While mental health struggles, including anxiety, sadness, and feeling overwhelmed, among student-athletes at colleges and universities have lessened since 2020, they are still at concerning levels. Forty-four percent of female student-athletes and 17 percent of male student-athletes are “constantly” or “most every day” overwhelmed by everything they have to do, according to the December 2023 study Current Findings on Student-Athlete Mental Health by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). More than 23,000 student-athletes took part in the study, with 35 percent of female athletes and 16 percent of male athletes saying they “constantly” or “most every day” feel mentally exhausted.
College and university students broadly are reporting high levels of mental health challenges. But the competitive, driven nature of many student-athletes and the pressure they face to succeed both in their courses and in their sports can increase their risk of struggling emotionally and psychologically. If, however, they are part of the right kind of environment and have a robust support system, student-athletes can also benefit from increased self-confidence, improved interpersonal skills, a close community, and more. Here’s a snapshot of current data on student-athlete mental health.
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