Written by: Shannon O'Brien

Mental health continues to make headlines across sport, and it's important to recognize that since the Pandemic began, that rates of mental health concerns have increased 150-250% with student-athletes. Mitchell Greene, a clinical sports psychologist, notes in Psychology Networker1 that, among college athletes right now, anxiety and depression are at epidemic proportions, and many are struggling with sleep, grief, and impaired everyday functioning. 

Generation Z is the most overexposed generation in history. They have always had a screen in their hand, and most of the time without choice, their parents, friends, and extended family have posted public pictures of their life on social media platforms, some beginning before they were even born. Tim Elmore, of Growing Leaders has helped to identify that this generation has grown up anxious because they lack privacy. "Cyber bullying, suicidal ideation fostered by online perpetrators, and mass shootings, have been normalized for Gen Z, fostering perpetual mental health issues." 2 Additionally, this generation has lived their entire lives with America involved in tensions overseas, with wars being fought over ideologies causing perpetual conflict. As athletes, they have been pushed to specialize in their sport from a young age, robbing them of the opportunity to be kids and enjoy the game for the game's sake, having every highlighted moment lifted high for all to see on their parents and coaches social media platforms. Many Gen Z athletes have witnessed friends and teammates elevated and dropped through their "playing careers" before they were even sixteen years old, witnessing downfall and rejection with fairweather fans. This generation hasn't known life outside mass media exposure and under protection. It's understandable that this is an anxious population. 

Likely, you feel it too. In addition to all that is going on in this world, our own "private" lives have had conflict, loss, disappointment, and brokenness. We are weary beings. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus invites us to find restoration in Him, He says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." The word weary in the Greek lexicon means "to work with effort (of bodily and mental labor alike); to labor until worn out, depleted (exhausted)." With all that is going on in our world between covid, politics, racial injustices, and recently, bombings in Ukraine, it would be understandable to name that it is quite possible that a lot of us are likely laboring with fatigue. It's not that we can't keep laboring, and we do, it's recognizing that we are doing it through exhaustion, and then allowing ourselves to be attuned and cared for in that reality. 

Our student athlete community is also bearing the same fatigue from this world that we as older adults are, and on top of that, they are also managing classes, exams, interviews, social pressures, and earning playing time that beckons championship performances. When it comes to anxiety, depression, phobias, tearfulness, withdrawal, sleeplessness, etc. most athletes feel like they need to tough it out, to persevere and endure as if to run on a swollen ankle, or torn ligament and perform as if there wasn't an injury slowing them. We know that this would not be healthy. In my ten years of sitting with student athletes and listening to their journeys, we can be helpful in recognizing the symptoms when our athletes are "limping" in pain emotionally and psychologically so that we can support them in the same way we would when they need to see the athletic trainer for PT. In watching sports, if we see an athlete roll an ankle, get fouled hard causing an injury, or simply looking "gassed" in an athletic contest, a coach is right to make a sub, and allow the player to rest and catch their breath, and receive the treatment necessary to help them recover and return to play. The reality is, we can see physical fatigue, but we can't always see mental fatigue until it's taken more of a toll. So how do we spot the invisible opponent? How do we help our student-athletes and staff manage their mental health weariness? One of the most helpful tools I have found in sitting with our athletes is helping them become attuned to what they are really feeling, and attuning to their needs. To help us as athletes, coaches, parents, and athletic staff, a helpful tool to attune them and yourself to what they are dealing with is the NCAA mental wellness continuum module. 3 This module (see picture below) is a wellness continuum that highlights the four stages of wellness that can impact us in our mental health. The symptoms identified under each stage are some of what a student-athlete could be experiencing. A lot of student-athletes (people in general) will fluctuate between the Periodic Distress to Functional Impairment stages. When a student athlete has crossed into Periodic Distress (the yellow zone), it's like they have an overused muscle and would benefit from added rest. When they cross into Functional Impairment (orange zone), it's like they have sprained their ankle and need professional physical therapy to protect and heal the injury. When they cross into Severe Functional Impairment (red zone) it's like tearing a ligament in a game and needing immediate and extended care to function and heal. There is no shame in a physical injury through practicing and playing hard, and there should be no shame in needing help (or added rest) with mental strain. If you are noticing a "limp" in your athlete or a person around you, be willing to ask them what you're noticing. If we see a person physically limping we wouldn't hesitate to check on them, the same should be true when we notice someone mentally "limping." 

 
  

  
   
If you have a person you know in the red zone, and experiencing suicidal thoughts and/or self harming, we need to be courageous to offer them QPR, just like we would if we saw someone in cardiac arrest and they needed CPR. "QPR" stands for "Question, Persuade, Refer"4 when it comes to recognizing if a person is in crisis and possibly suicidal. In asking questions like, "Are you suicidal?" "Are you harming yourself?" "Do you have a plan to end your life?" "What do you mean when you say, "I'm done?" can invite the person into being seen and heard and attune themselves with you and the reality of what they are considering. Often, we are afraid to ask the question in fear of creating an idea, the reality is, in asking the question we are allowing for an opportunity for the person to name out loud what they have possibly been wrestling with internally. If you are able to help in the moment, offer hope and guidance by referring them to added help (just like we would if someone physically is hurt, we call the athletic trainer or doctor for further care and healing). If a person is in crisis, we can call 1-800- 273-TALK. This is the suicide prevention hotline phone number that can be called anytime. 

Remember that mental health strain and problems don't define who a person is, they are something that they experience. Jesus understands the human in our being. He knows that we have human limitations and need help for recovery and rest. Doctors, Psychologists, Therapists, Trainers, Spiritual Directors, Chaplains, and Ministers are all helping fields to aid in a person's recovery to live flourishing lives. Jesus is our ultimate source for rest and restoration and with this, He has also allowed for helping vocations to aid in our recovery from our weariness. 

Training Ground: Read 1 Kings 19 What is Elijah feeling? How does the Lord care for Elijah first? What does He provide for Him? 
What does the Lord ask Elijah? 
God has a heart for His people. He desires to restore and guide us. He often meets physical needs first, and helps to attune us to Him through our need for Him in the process of His provision. We benefit from seeking rest and restoration, it's necessary for how we have been designed by God. The Lord sends others to help aid in this, and invites us into being known and seen so that we may continue to labor on with Him in the greater story He is writing in and through our lives. 
         -Consider the Wellness Continuum, which of the four stages most are relatable for you in this season of your life?
         -Who are the people in your circle that you can go to for help with mental wellness?
         -Who are the people that come to mind that you have noticed "limping" in mental wellness?
         -How is Jesus inviting you into casting your burdens on Him and finding rest in His care? As you feel led, pray. Ask the Lord for His help and guidance, and provision to help you have a community to serve and aid in helping you flourish in your life. Pray for those that come to mind in need of rest and recovery. Embrace the reality of mental health and wellness, and consider ways you can help them and yourself take steps towards rest and healing too. Remember that mental health is something we all experience.
 
1 Mitchell Greene, Psychology Networker. "Athletes Get Real About Mental Health." https://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/blog/details/1437/athletes-get-real-about-mental-health

2 Growing Leaders, Tim Elmore. "Ten Interesting Facts About Generation Z and How They Affect Us All." https://growingleaders.com/blog/ten-interesting-facts-about-generation-z-and-how-they-affect-us-all/?mc_ cid=cac5ec4130&mc_eid=40c179af21 

3 NCAA Mental Health Resource, 
http://s3.amazonaws.com/ncaa/files/ssi/mental-health/toolkits/student-athlete/story.html

4 Learn more about QPR Gatekeeper Training, https://qprinstitute.com/