College Athlete Suicides Trigger Calls for Change

Mental health in sports has become a frequent topic of conversation over the last few years. But after three star female college athletes committed suicide within just a few weeks, perhaps it's time to do more than just talk about mental health. The sports community is sounding the alarm for change. Will the NCAA, universities, and coaches prioritize their athletes' mental health, or will they let this crisis get worse?

It Didn't Have to Be Like This

Katie Meyer became an internet sensation and female icon overnight. After making unbelievable penalty kick saves in the 2019 NCAA women's soccer championship for Stanford, Meyer led her team to victory and instantly blew up. She became popular on social media, gained a huge following, and continued to shine. But even she, the captain of one of the country's most outstanding teams, had her secret struggles.

Sadly, on March 1, Katie was found unresponsive in her dormitory after taking her own life. Shocked and in disbelief, her parents said they saw no warning signs, no red flags. She was a busy girl with a lot on her plate, but she appeared happy and was bound for success. Unfortunately, Katie is not alone in her struggle as a student athlete. Over the last two months, others have taken their own lives.

Sarah Shulze, a top track athlete at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, lost the battle of balancing athletics, academics, and everyday life, committing suicide on April 13. Star James Madison University softball player Lauren Bernett took her life last week in the middle of her season. These three aren’t alone; many student athletes struggle in secret.

What motivated them to play at the highest level and succeed in the classroom led to unrealistic expectations and eventually their downfall. Coaches, teammates, parents, the school, and the players themselves all demand the best at all times. But these unachievable standards lead to feeling overwhelmed and helpless. Athletes and activists do appear committed, however, to making sure stars like Katie, Sarah, and Lauren are seen as humans first so that others in the same shoes can openly prioritize their mental health.

What's the Cause?

College is challenging for every student – but the additional stressors of being an athlete increase the risk factors for mental health struggles. When you finally make it to the Division 1 level, the battle to succeed is not over; it has only just begun, and it's extremely difficult.

Your parents may have spent tens of thousands of dollars, thousands of hours, and hundreds of weekends into your youth sport to help you get to the college level. Once you get there, you have to show that it was all worth it. It's hard to throw in the towel and quit knowing how much time and energy you and your family invested.

Those on athletic scholarships are constantly under pressure to perform, keep or increase their scholarships, and stay on the team. Losing your scholarship could force you to leave the school if you can no longer afford it. A lot of players, unfortunately, deal with abusive coaches as well. Ridiculing your body or eating habits or verbally abusing you at practice can be a tipping point. And there is a difference between abuse and looking out for players' success even when it means being critical.

Calling Upon the NCAA

Regardless of what's causing the mental struggles in these athletes, one thing stands true: We can do more. The NCAA had been scorned for ignoring this ongoing crisis and failing to treat these athletes as people first. Organizations such as The Hidden Opponent and The Madison Holleran Foundation are joined by many in calling upon the NCAA to invest their $1.16 billion annual revenue into the ones who produce it.

The negative stigma surrounding mental health may be fading in general – but it's holding firm in the sports community. This has to become a comfortable topic of conversation so that people like Katie, Sarah, and Lauren can admit they are struggling and ask for help before it’s too late. Universities and conferences across the country have taken it upon themselves to hire mental health professionals in their athletics departments and hold open forums regarding anxiety and depression.

However, not every university has the funding to hire more staff or increase resources; that's why the NCAA’s involvement is so essential. It has the power to legally require more trained staff and force schools to prioritize mental health. Perhaps recent events will be the push leaders need to make real change, not just publish an article with links to resources and claim they care – because we cannot afford for this mental health crisis to get worse than it already is.