The Importance of Mental Health in Sports
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For many, Seasonal Affective Disorder, known as SAD, is an all-too-familiar feeling. As the air gets colder and the days get shorter, feelings of fatigue, hopelessness, and all-around melancholy may begin to arise. When these feelings rear their heads, it’s all you can do not to crawl into bed and sleep the days away. However, for athletes, symptoms of seasonal depression may present unique challenges.
Due to stereotypes of mental toughness among athletes, poor mental health is an issue that is often overlooked in athletics. This bias contributes to the many compounding pressures faced by student-athletes. In recent years, however, there has been increased global awareness regarding the importance of athletes looking out for their mental health. Much of this change is credited to the impact of Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and her public mental health journey. Four years ago, Biles’ decision to withdraw from the women’s team final at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 sparked public outrage and backlash. Biles was labeled a loser, a quitter, lazy, and countless other demeaning judgments of her character. This decision wasn’t easy for Biles, however, who has made it clear that it was not made because she is a quitter or unmotivated, but rather for her mental health, which she had been struggling with. Biles made clear with her brave decision the importance of athletes prioritizing their mental health, pushing her to the forefront of a movement for increased mental health awareness. After taking a hiatus, Biles has won the gymnastics all-around final in Paris this year, her eleventh of eleven Olympic medals.
Biles's journey and the movement it sparked have majorly changed the global conversation around mental health for athletes. As an athlete, it can be easy to ignore one’s mental needs and prioritize physical needs, but it’s crucial to give both equal care and attention. Some ways in which athletes can care for themselves and their teammates can include checking in with their teammates and seeing how they're balancing athletics with school or personal life. Just having a discussion can help a lot! Another way in which we can care for our mental well-being is by just getting enough sleep and drinking water. Quality sleep is needed to give one’s mind time for recovery. Additional options are meditation and yoga whether in a class or through an online resource, journaling, hydrating, maintaining a balanced diet, or just positive self-talk.
It’s necessary to care for our mental health year-round, but especially around this time of year with seasonal depression on the rise. It’s highly encouraged that anyone struggling do research on how you can take care of yourself, and don’t be afraid to reach out for support.
