Mental Health & Performance
A foundational component of well-being, today's college athlete's struggle to get healthy amounts of this, which can improve performance, mood and functioning dramatically.
Sleep
Name the Olympic male swimmer who has spoken about his mental health issues.
Michael Phelps has spoken about his depression and ADHD.
"As a male athlete, I always thought it was a sign of weakness if I showed I was being vulnerable. It's not weakness," he said. "If we're injured, they're going to fix our broken bones, but if we're mentally struggling, we have to get help and we have to get it in safe places."
Name two ways to get better sleep.
Limit screen time before trying to sleep, read a book, listen to guided meditations, deep breathing exercises, journaling, avoid napping too close to night time, avoid caffeine later in the day, be consistent.
Early morning practices can be stressful and it can be hard to stay motivated. Name 2 ways to prepare for your morning practices.
Eat!, set your alarm early enough to fully wake up, body shower, brush your teeth, listen to music, plan your day the night before.
A key component of our stress response systems, athletes have reported to feeling too much of this prior to or during competitions, causing them to worry, withdraw and affecting their play.
What is anxiety
Name the Olympic American Gymnast who spoke about her mental health issues
Simone Biles has spoken about her anxiety.
"Put mental health first, because if you don't, then you're not going to enjoy your sport and you're not going to succeed as much as you want to"
Besides sleep, what is the most common activity/routine student-athletes struggle with?
Eating healthy / Eating to fuel your body.
Feeling engaged in your community at school can help reduce social anxieties and feeling isolated. What are some ways to increase your sense of community on campus?
Join a club, ask a friend to attend an event with you, join SAAC, get involved in volunteer work in the area, attend another teams sporting event.
Providing a great combination of resting, stretching and mindful breathing, this ancient practice has both physical and mental benefits.
Yoga
These on campus chapter organizations in athletics provide a space to have a healthy discussion about our mental health and can help us build community around the topic.
Mental Health Mondays!
Name 2 ways to engage in PHYSICAL self care without naming working out.
Running errands, eating healthy, sleeping healthy, taking a warm shower, brushing teeth, attending doctors appointments / training room appointments, yoga/meditation, going for a nature walk.
It's the middle of the semester and you are starting to feel overwhelmed with your school work. What are some effective ways to "catch up" or avoid burn out. Name 2.
Create a calendar, set reminders, prioritize your time, ask for help - academic counselors, don't wait until the night to get it all done.
Proven to decrease activity in the parts of the brain responsible for deep thoughts and worry, utilizing________ before practice or a competition can help athletes improve focus and performance as well as reduce anxiety and/or stress.
Meditation or mindfulness or deep breathing.
This professional athlete wrote a blog on his mental health struggles called, "Everyone is going through something." He is a five-time NBA All-Star and won an NBA championship with the Cavaliers.
Kevin Love
"Mental health is an invisible thing, but it touches all of us at some point or another. It’s part of life."
Name 2 ways to engage in EMOTIONAL self care.
Asking for help, setting boundaries, journaling, listening to music/podcasts, reading a book, practice gratitude, talking to a supportive friend/family member, limit exposure to news, watch a funny movie.
NCAA student-athlete well being study shows that 69% of women's sports athletes and 63% of men's sports athletes know where to go to on campus if they have mental health concerns. How many of those student athletes reported they would actually go?
Of those students, less than half would feel comfortable seeking services. 48% for women and 46% for men.
Why?
One tool in a mental health toolkit, athletes use this activity to get thoughts out of their heads, as well as to communicate patterns of their thoughts with therapists, coaches, trainers, etc.
Journaling, writing, poetry
This NFL star wide receiver has been an advocate for his mental health struggles for years following receiving treatments for his disorders. He has since started a podcast/tv show I AM ATHLETE that invites other athletes to come and share their stories. He retired 2018 after most notably playing for: Broncos, Bears, Jets, Seahawks and Giants.
Brandon Marshall
"I think where it starts for us is knowing that strength is asking your brother for help," Marshall says. "Strength is, you know, being able to show vulnerability. A lot of times we internalize these things and we don't share them."
Student-athletes almost always struggle with self-care due to their intense and crowded schedules. What is is the best way to fix this?
Plan ahead!
Make a schedule, all the way down to times to eat and sleep.
List two services AU has that can help better your mental health or overall well-being?
Center for Well-Being, Academic Support, Dean of Students, Title IX, Student Health Center, Res Life, Kay Spiritual Life, Center for Diversity and Inclusion etc.
Clubs such as: AU Body Neutrality Coalition, Mindfulness & Mediation club