Stories We Tell

A December report from the NCAA showed that while mental health issues among student-athletes have improved since 2020, they remain at relatively high levels.

By Nyhiem Russell 

Mental health is crucial for student-athletes and there are some important factors to consider.   Some of the solutions that can be used are time management, self-care, open communication and seeking professional help, according to health professionals. 

“I basically prioritize my time with being in the classroom and being on the track,” junior Pebbles Scott, a runner for N.C. A&T’s team, said during the April 22 track meet. “When I have down time, I usually listen to music and play video games on my iPad.”  

A December report from the NCAA showed that while mental health issues among student-athletes have improved since 2020, they remain at relatively high levels. For example, 29% of respondents in women’s sports said they felt overwhelming anxiety constantly or most every day. For participants in men’s sports, 9% of respondents reported feeling that way.

The study also found that women, LGBTQ+ and student athletes of color reported the highest rates of mental health struggles. Academics, planning for the future, and finances were the factors most cited as negatively impacting the respondent’s mental health.

A&T gives students and athletes wellness days during the semester to relax and give them a break. They were first added in fall 2021 to encourage students to practice self-care, Valerie Giddings, senior vice provost of academic affairs, told The Daily Tar Heel. The university, like many across the state and country, added more breaks into the academic calendar in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and a rise in mental health issues among young people. 

“I am very glad that student-athletes have wellness days to take a break and give their mental health a break from the semester and the season,” said Amber Monroe, throws coach. “When I was throwing at the University of Miami, we didn’t have mental health days and these athletes are blessed.”  

The university’s Counseling Services department is also available to help student-athletes with their mental health. The department offers such services as individual and group therapy, outreach and psychological testing.

“We have the best resources on our team that helps out with our athletes whenever they’re not feeling well or ready to perform,” said Allen Johnson, head coach of A&T’s track and field team. But students, he added, have to  “know inside themselves that they’re not ready to perform and they need help.”

Nyhiem Russell is a North Carolina A&T junior multimedia major from Jacksonville, North Carolina