Blog
Real conversations. Real athletes. Real mental health.
Stories, Support & Strength
Welcome to our blog space dedicated to the voices and experiences of athletes navigating the highs, lows, and everything in between. Here, we share powerful stories, practical tools, expert insights, and honest conversations around mental health in sports and life. Whether you're looking for inspiration, education, or a reminder that you're not alone: this is your space to feel seen, supported, and stronger than ever.
Mental Health Is a Hidden Struggle in Athletics
Mental health concerns are alarmingly common among student-athletes but support and access remain limited.
From the NCAA Student-Athlete Well-Being Study (Fall 2021):
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Only 47% of student-athletes felt comfortable seeking help from a campus mental health provider.
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88% reported feeling mentally exhausted.
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72% experienced overwhelming anxiety.
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94% of women’s sport athletes said they felt overwhelmed by everything they had to do.
These numbers are a wake-up call. Behind the performance is a real person, often struggling in silence.
Why Mental Health Matters for Athletes:
Taking care of mental health is crucial for athletes, yet it’s often overlooked due to the intense pressures they face. Athletes are expected to perform at their best every day while juggling not only their sport, but academics, training, social life, and personal commitments. This constant balancing act can be overwhelming. Studies show that athletes often struggle with lower self-esteem, largely due to defining their identity through their performance.
Additionally, athletes are at a higher risk for mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and social anxiety, which can negatively affect both their well-being and performance. These mental health struggles often spiral, affecting not just the mind, but the body as well.
Too often, athletes are taught that true mental toughness means never showing vulnerability or admitting when they’re struggling. This harmful stigma within sports culture needs to change. Too many athletes have suffered in silence, and too many lives have been lost because the pressure to be "mentally tough" keeps them from seeking the help they desperately need. It’s time to break this cycle and create a space where mental health is prioritized just as much as physical health.
Share Your Story. Break the Stigma.
Your story matters and it might be exactly what someone else needs to hear. We invite you to share your voice. Whether you've overcome something, are still in it, or are learning along the way : your perspective is valid, important, and needed.
Ready to share your story?
Fill out the form or email us directly with a bit about your story, what you'd like to share, and why it matters to you.