World We Dare to Imagine: Part 3

Athletes for Athletes

When student-athletes get injured, they receive time off to heal, but how do we combat those injuries that are invisible? 

33% of all college students experience significant symptoms of mental health conditions. Among that group, 30% seek help. Of college athletes only 10% do. It doesn’t have to be this way. Attention to mental health and well-being among student-athletes should be prioritized well before high school. For years, student-athletes will train physically before entering college. Why can’t mental training hold the same weight and start before college as well? 

Upon a survey of 300 student-athletes, 70% stated that they found it difficult to attend and openly participate in events that were conducted by older, non-student athletes. In another survey, nearly all of the student-athletes noted their lack of education in mental health prior to college.

As an athlete myself, I recognize the toll sports and life can take on mental health. I also recognize the difference in hearing from an older, former student-athlete who played a completely different sport than you talk about mental health versus someone in similar shoes and age as you. Sometimes it’s just easier to hear from, and be open with, someone like you because they “just get it.”

For these reasons, I’ve launched “Athletes for Athletes,” an organization designed by athletes, for athletes, founded upon a mission to provide student-athletes access to the appropriate resources and open engagement that educate and reinforce mental health among student-athletes, beginning in high school and throughout college. We will create a grade level-based buddy-to-buddy mentorship system. For example, high school freshmen will be paired with college freshmen. Sophomores with sophomores, and so on. This will foster an environment where students can share the weight they carry without expectations or pressure.

Athletes for Athletes also intends to instill student-athlete-led programs in high school institutions that create a safe space for open education and engagement about mental health and the practice of mindfulness.

Our goal is to first place our programs throughout schools in California, and then as our organization grows, we will expand to other states. In the meantime, while we have an already established program in schools in California, we will select up to four high schools and four colleges per year as part of our Global Reach program that we will further our mission.

AMDP should support “Athletes for Athletes” for our positive social impact in our mission to impact young communities on a local and global scale. With the support of AMDP, Athletes for Athletes will have the appropriate resources to cater to student-athlete communities on both high school and college levels, and we will create opportunities for our organization to expand globally.

Too many times have I seen institutions make examples out of the lack of attention paid to mental health in sports instead of making a change. Too many times on social media I see announcements of student-athletes taking a step away from a sport they’ve played their whole life due to tolls and battles with their mental health that they don’t know how to combat. 

Change starts now and the dare is on. At “Athletes for Athletes,” our attention to mental health and well-being among student-athletes as early as high school is taking the next step closer to creating a world we dare to imagine together.