Lessons From the Field

September 30, 2024

Austin Sowell, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner - Eating Disorders

Student Athlete Mental Health

Over the past several years, there has been significant attention on the mental well-being of athletes, particularly college athletes. With all the publicity, it's easy to fall into the mindset that we are facing a mental health crisis among our young athletes. It makes sense–athletes are under tremendous pressure at increasingly younger ages. They are placed on a pedestal and expected to be flawless, not just in their sport but also in their personal lives. They often experience chronic fatigue and soreness from early morning weight sessions, team meetings, and late evening practices. And let's not forget that, at least until they reach the professional level, they also need to attend class and maintain good grades. And those are just the basics.

Life Lessons Through Sports

With all these expectations and responsibilities, it’s hard to imagine how being an athlete could be anything but detrimental to one’s mental well-being. However, as a “washed-up has-been” (as I like to say), a former Elon University football player, and later a NASCAR pit crew jackman for Team Penske, I might convince you otherwise. Being an athlete teaches many significant lessons, both on and off the field. You learn how to cope with losing, focus on what you can control, handle setbacks, stay self-motivated, and deal with people doubting you. These are all invaluable life lessons that build resilience and self-confidence which are essential skills for living a fulfilled life.

Risk Factors vs Protective Factors

As mental health professionals, we often discuss and assess risk and protective factors. Risk factors and protective factors are characteristics at the biological, psychological, family, or community level that either protect a person from negative outcomes or are associated with a higher probability of negative outcomes.

What are Protective Factors?

Protective factors include aspects like a healthy lifestyle, diet, social support, a sense of belonging, sleep, and maintaining a daily schedule—all of which are integral to being an athlete and part of a team. For example, a study published in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology found that adolescents who participate in team sports have higher self-esteem and lower levels of social anxiety compared to their peers who do not participate in sports.

The Global Crisis of Child Mental Health

It is true that the overall mental well-being among athletes has decreased, but this mirrors the global decline in child and adolescent mental health. We are seeing more young people struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts than ever before. Our young athletes are not immune to these issues. A 2022 study released by the NCAA found that non-athletes reported higher rates of “debilitating depression,” “overwhelming anxiety,” and “self-harm or suicidal thoughts” than their female, male, and non-binary athlete peers.

Stigma of Mental Health in Athletes

However, the American College of Sports Medicine reports that only 10% of college athletes with a known mental health condition seek help. From my perspective, the stigma and resistance to seeking treatment are among the most significant issues facing athletes and mental health.

Mental Health Education and Spreading Awareness

Even though athletes have many protective factors, they still struggle with mental health conditions. In my opinion, efforts should focus on educating athletes about the common symptoms of mental illness so they can better recognize when they or their teammates are struggling. Coaches and team captains should receive this same education, as athletes are most likely to turn to them for support. This preparation, education, and awareness are crucial.

Athletes are often seen as leaders in their schools, colleges, or communities. Encouraging athletes, as we have seen with Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, Kevin Love, and many others, to speak up about their struggles can empower others to do the same. Research conducted by the American Psychological Association found that when high-profile athletes publicly discuss their mental health struggles, there is a measurable increase in mental health-related searches and discussions online, indicating a positive impact on reducing stigma.

Athletes have a platform to influence, and while that can feel like a lot of pressure, it can be used for good–to promote the importance of mental wellness and break the silence around mental illness.

About the Author 

Originally, from Knoxville, TN, Austin attended Elon University where he played football as an offensive lineman. After graduating with a BS in Chemistry, he went on to work for NASCAR as part of the pit crew. As an athlete, he saw firsthand the importance of nutrition as a way to optimize his body to be the best it could be, and through his personal experience, he grew a deep interest in physiology.

After several years in NASCAR, Austin decided he wanted to pursue a more fulfilling career as a Nurse Practitioner. He completed nursing school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and then worked as an Emergency Department nurse for several years. While working in the ED, he quickly realized his passion for psychiatry and went on to get his Psychiatric – Mental Health Nurse Practitioner’s degree from East Carolina University.

Austin is interested in and has experience in general psychiatry, eating disorders and sports psychiatry. Throughout his life, Austin’s personal interest in physiology has deepened as well as his understanding of how nutrition supports the body’s functioning. He is excited to combine his personal passion with his medical training to help clients achieve their goals and be the healthiest version of themselves.

Outside of work, Austin enjoys reading, BBQ-ing and spending time with his family.