It is now September and that conjure up multiple meanings for many people.
It means the month of Labor Day.
It means back to school for most.
It means the end of summer.
It means the start of football.
It also means it is National Suicide Prevention Month.
Let’s take some time to focus on those last two and you’ll see how they are not entirely distinct from one another.
Sports are now tackling the issue of mental health in some way. The NBA most prominently is taking steps to ensure that their players have access to resources and professionals to address their needs. At the same time, there is a similar ongoing effort on the part of college athletes. Over the last several years there have been cases in which college athletes have died by suicide.
In 2014, Madison Holleran, a freshman on the University of Pennsylvania Track team took her own life.
In January 2017, Jordan Hankins, a basketball player at Northwestern University killed herself in her dorm room.
In January 2018, Washington State University backup quarterback Tyler Helinksi killed himself with a self-inflicted shotgun wound.
Later that year, two Wabash College football players, Evan Hansen and Kyle McAtee, took their lives on the same day, September 10th, which in a tragic irony is World Suicide Prevention Day.
These are just some examples of the mental health and suicide crisis that is occurring on college campuses and the impact it has had on athletes.
According to the Center for Disease Control, Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the 2nd for college aged students. The prevalence of suicide is four times greater in young men than women. That can be attributed to the traditional constraining notions of what manhood and masculinity is that precludes men and boys from seeking out help and admitting any pain or vulnerability.
The exact suicide rate for college athletes is unknown, however a University of Washington study showed that there were 477 suicides between 2003 and 2013 out of 500,000 student athletes. That is about 48 suicides per year according to the study.
There is not a direct cause for suicide, but there are many contributing factors that comprise of already existing health issues and added stressors that converge to create feelings of hopelessness and despair. These factors can be physical and mental health related such as doubts with depression, substance abuse problems, bipolar disorder, physical problems relating to pain, and traumatic brain injury, which the latter is not uncommon in sports such as football or hockey. Other factors can be environmentally related such as access to firearms and other lethal instruments. Relentless harassment or bullying at school or the workplace. Stressful life events such as divorce, financial problems, unemployment, or rejection. Finally, historical factors such as childhood abuse can play a role.
Knowing these warning signs and knowing the symptoms can better prepare people to respond to anyone in need in the athletic community including athletes, coaches, athletic directors, team staff, and athletic departments.
Already college football is required to confront mental health related issues in a variety of ways. They are focusing on the personal aspects of the athletes lives such as the balance between academics and athletics, the expectations that come with being a student athlete, and also their lives on social media. All collegiate athletic programs should be actively involved in promoting mental health and well-being through awareness campaigns and programs.
To aid in this mission, athletic departments and teams should hire full time social workers, psychologists, and other professionals to help provide assistance.
Coaches, trainers, and other staff should be trained and certified in Mental Health First Aid.
Teams should participate in regular workshops before, during, and after their seasons on mental health.
Athletes should take a mental health screening along with their physicals during the pre-season.
The Adverse Childhood Experiences exam (ACE) should be implemented during pre-season to assess how any past childhood traumas affect their physical and mental well-being at this time.
In the end, we need to keep reminding anyone who is struggling that they are not alone.
There are resources, organizations, and people to contact.
There is nothing weak or soft about asking for help.
Ask Michael Phelps, Royce White, Kevin Love, DeMar DoRozen, and many others.
Let’s play the game the right way and let’s save some lives in the process.
If you are feeling suicidal and need to talk to someone please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
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