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Overcoming mental health: the silent athlete kryptonite
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Overcoming mental health: the silent athlete kryptonite
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Content
Overcoming Mental Illness: The Silent Athlete’s Kryptonite
by
David S. Keeling
A Thesis Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE USC ANNENBERG SCHOOL FOR COMMUNICATION
AND JOURNALISM
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
MASTER OF ARTS
(JOURNALISM (SPECIALIZED JOURNALISM))
May 2022
Copyright 2022 David S. Keeling
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to take the time to acknowledge those who have provided their support
throughout this process. This thesis project would not have been possible if not for the following
people who dedicated their time, expertise, and support. I really appreciate you all.
I would like to thank my thesis chair, Professor Miki Turner, for encouraging me to tackle
a profoundly serious topic with confidence and research. Thank you to my committee members;
Dr. Lisa Pecot-Hebert and Professor Jeff Fellenzer, for allowing me to share my story through a
microlens approach of how athletes suffer from mental health issues. They also are allowing me
to expand my story by using a macro lens approach to connect with other athletes and experts as
well. Additionally, this thesis project has helped me spread awareness and critically think through
this heavy work. Thank you to my participants for their willingness to share their stories with me.
To my close friends and family, thank you for always supporting me and giving me
positive encouragement throughout this journey. The support you offered gave me strength when
I needed it the most. Throughout this process, you all have constantly checked in on me and not
allowed me to get consumed by my thesis. Shout out to my parents for sending me positive
affirmations every single day. This has truly helped me improve my outlook on life and kept me
focused on the bigger picture. Ultimately, this has kept me disciplined throughout this process and
recognized the value of where passion, determination, and hard work can take you in life. I could
not ask for a better supporting cast.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments…………………………………………………………...………….…......ii
List of figures …………………………………………………………...………….................iii
Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………......iv
Introduction……………………...……………….…………….………………...............….…v
CHAPTER 1 - The Day that changed the course of my life ……………………………..........2
Athletic Identity Syndrome: The Kryptonite of Today’s Athletes …...…………..…......................................3
Crossing Paths with The Uncertainty of The Future ….….………………………........................................4
When One Door Closes, Another One Opens: Hunter Patterson Anecdote……………….…..…………5
CHAPTER 2 - The Trials and Tribulations of a Phenomenal Young Athlete………………….6
Dr. Wason’s Views on Evolving Into The Best Version of
Yourself…….…..…………………………………………………………………………………………….7
How Practicing Mindfulness Can Help Combat Feelings of
Confusion………………………………...........................................................................................................8
One Coach’s Take on Mental Health Strategies and Support for
Athletes….……………….................................................................................................................9
Conclusion……………………………………..…...…………………………………..............10
Bibliography...………………….………….……...….…….…………………..………………11
ABSTRACT
Any high-intensity or high-contact sporting activity can make a player vulnerable to
injuries. In today’s world, sports enthusiasts from all over the globe have watched many players
encounter brutal physical injuries. Yet, those same viewers do not see behind the scenes how this
issue can affect players’ mental wellness. There are numerous instances of recreational or
professional players forfeiting their careers due to mental illness. Further, a player not competing
in their sport due to an injury can ignite stress and feelings of worthlessness. A recent study by the
American College Health Association shows that 21% of athletes reported bouts of depression
while participating in their sport. The report also suggests that the amount of athletes diagnosed
with depressive disorder has increased by 10-15% within the last year. 9
These same athletes have to deal with the stress of acceptance, coaches’ expectations,
validation from fans, and are still faced with the task of fulfilling their own desires and goals. As
a result, players often force themselves to expedite their recovery process and find themselves
returning to the playing field before they are fully healed. This self-destructive mindset can
jeopardize athletes’ chances of a successful future career. Thus, this thesis is centered around what
happens when an athlete becomes aware that his or her career has ended due to various mental and
emotional health issues or from the direct complications of injury. Additionally, they realize that
no longer participating in sports can adversely affect their mental health. Also, I utilized my
personal experience to spread awareness regarding the stigma that athletes face when dealing with
a mental health issue.
1
INTRODUCTION
Life is filled with chances for a person to grow within themselves and to help them learn
how to become part of a community. Since my youth, I have utilized sports as a platform to help
me develop into the man that I am today. Participating in sports has taught me discipline,
dedication, friendship, accountability, and fearlessness. I fully understood these values and
exemplified them by participating in various sports activities. Engaging in these activities opened
my eyes and helped me realize how life operates.
Beginning with the day I laced up my cleats and stepped onto a football field; I realized it
does not matter what individuals do in their everyday lives and that no matter who you are, you
will never get anywhere without hard work. As a result, I took this mindset from approaching the
game of football and translated it into my daily life. I attacked my classroom courses when studying
subject material to prepare for test day.
See, test days were my academic game days, and I felt confident from the
preparation of learning subject material compared to studying my opponent's defensive game
plans throughout the week. However, there was a hidden opponent that I didn’t acknowledge and
always left at the door while entering into any sports environment. You may ask, who was my
opponent? It was “team well-being of my mental health”. During my teenage years, I was one of
those athletes who struggled with mental health and did not ask for help. “Three more sprints,
David! You better not be last.” That’s all I remember hearing from my high school football days;
Coach Parker’s raucous voice piercing throughout the football stadium.
Sweat dripped down my cheekbones and onto my practice jersey as I gasped for air. My
legs are trembling, and I’m struggling to control my breath. I felt like I would be weak and
considered less than a man if I gave up. Would I be facing the consequence of being an unreliable
teammate? Now my coaches would not trust me. Would they think that I have no mental toughness?
2
I’m not perfect; what happens now? These thoughts poured into my head like water rushing over a
dam. Now I am filled with anxiety and completely overwhelmed.
“Feelings of being overwhelmed.”
As a freshman in high school, everyone looked up to me as a leader. Still maturing as a
young man, I could not show any signs of weakness. Due to everyone’s high expectations, I
developed performance anxiety. Performance anxiety in athletes includes a fear of failure,
concerns about others’ opinions(largely the coach), a lack of preparation to perform, and a shift
from internal to an external locus of control. (Germany, 2020). According to the American College
of Sports Medicine, approximately 30% of women and 25% of men who are student-athletes report
having anxiety, and only 10% of all college athletes with known mental health conditions seek care
from a mental health professional.
“Winton Woods High School Coach Andre Parker”
In Coach Parker’s eyes, the rule was perfection only. There was no room for compromise
3
or for any error. I eventually programmed myself to be a perfectionist. I would become so upset or
cause myself to have emotional distress if I made the slightest mistake. I battled through injuries
because I did not want anyone to realize that my body was not in “perfect” condition. As years
passed by, I began to recognize that this behavior was ruining not only my self-esteem but had also
begun to affect other aspects of my life negatively. Back then, I never told anyone anything.
Mental health is often ignored because the stigmas prevent some people from getting help.
I could have had a conversation with my coaches or parents, but instead, I chose to remain a
prisoner to my thoughts and suffered in silence. If only I knew then what I have grown to know
now.Hopefully, this thesis will shed a light upon someone reading this and help them realize that
having a mental health issue is not something to be ashamed of. Society needs to know that there
are programs and organizations willing to help those who are in need. Optimistically, they will
reach out and get help so that they do not become prisoners of their minds and bodies like I and
many others have before me.
The Day that Changed the Course of my life
I am sitting in a black chair at the Ball State athletics office, trying to appear patient. My
right leg starts to bounce up and down furiously. My heart races fast, but the only noise is my
breathing. In my head I repeat," Stay calm, stay calm," while my eyes remain laser-focused on
the black digital clock. Sweat drips down my forehead while the minutes tick away. I close my
eyes to relax my breathing. Suddenly, I hear a voice flat and hard as a slamming oven door yell,
"You can come in now, David Keeling."
4
“Ball State’s Running back coach Kevin Lynch”
When I glanced up, it was Coach Lynch beckoning. He is a 5'10 foot brown-haired man
with a freshly shaved face. I shakily get out of my chair and walk towards his room. The room
was brightly lit by a large window and filled with modern plaques and football trophies, but the
effect was softened by a vase of flowers on his desk and a warm red carpet. I sat down in the
black guest chair.
“Wassup David, How are you feeling?” "I'm doing good," I anxiously respond.
"You are doing good? But I've been hearing you are feeling upset. Why are you feeling that
way?"
I stare at the fluorescent lights on the ceiling and think about my past. Memories flood
into my brain of a day in early April 2017. It was an early morning at 7:30 am when I strapped on
my helmet with great enthusiasm and took my position on the field. My head coach called me
into the offensive huddle to execute a running play during our scrimmage. As I ran into the
huddle, my eyes were glued to the quarterback. The quarterback announced in the huddle,"
1..2… break" We all departed from one another, lining up in our positions on the field. The
quarterback snapped the ball and ran left to hand the football to me. I sprint left to grab the ball
and run between the offensive tackles. While I ran my acceleration built up quickly, I saw a
defender approaching me. As soon as I made a jump cut to evade the defender, I felt a striking
5
pain occur in the back of my left leg. Suddenly, it felt like the moment went black and white.
I remember vividly being pulled to the side to get evaluated by the trainers. They
diagnosed me with a hamstring injury. I couldn't practice for a week. When I was rehabbing my
left hamstring, I felt pressure from my coaches to get back out there on the field. I thought about
how earning a football scholarship from Ball State was in my grasp and how it could change my
life. Pressure, expectations, and goals were all surfacing throughout my mind. A few days later, I
decided to go back out to practice and injured my right hamstring. I fell to the ground in pain and
shock, realizing now both of my legs were injured. I was sidelined for the rest of spring football.
My injuries lasted for months. I wasn't the same agile and explosive athlete anymore. I felt my
coaches were moving on from me and didn't think I was the same caliber athlete. As a result, I
sunk into a great state of depression. There were days that I didn't eat or sleep. I was casting
myself away from my parents and teammates. I felt like I had a rain cloud hovering over my head
every day when I walked to class. Some days I would try to smile through my pain and other
days, I would not show any emotion.
My moods were literally an emotional rollercoaster. I was devastated by how my life was
not working in my favor. I remember sitting in my room reminiscing about living out my
collegiate football dream at a D1 school. Winning an award during my freshman year, but these
injuries derailed the process of earning a scholarship. Everything that I had worked hard for in
the previous year had just quickly vanished. It literally felt like I was climbing up a rope to secure
a full-ride scholarship, but once I got injured, someone cut the rope, and I was falling from the
sky.
6
“A man falling out of the sky”
Athletic Identity Syndrome: The Kryptonite of Today’s Athletes
I wasn't the first athlete to feel like this. Millions of athletes all over the country
experienced how I felt. Not living up to their goals and expectations. Constantly trying to push
through and succeed at a rate to impress everyone else. Subconsciously, I didn't realize that a
sport I have grown to love was now detrimental to my mental health.
Mental health issues in the Black community have been historically stigmatized -- society
says that Black men should be strong and not show any emotion while convincing Black women
to ignore their issues and smile through the pain. This toxic way of thinking bleeds into the world
of sports.
“Raven Saunders participating in the shot put event”
Raven Saunders is a track and field athlete that competes in the shot put and discus throw.
She had enjoyed real success after the 2016 Rio Olympics and gained notoriety across the world.
7
But a year later, in 2017, she returned to the University of Mississippi for her senior year. She
faced a series of mental setbacks, including a physical injury. According to Mulkeen’s interview
of Saunders; Saunders stated, "I would base my self-worth and how good I was as a person on
how I was doing in track. " She said, "When I ended up not having a good World Championship
meet, it sent me further into that hole. I knew I was drained, but I still tried to push through. But
it wasn't for me; it was for a lot of people I felt like I owed."
I realized there was a common denominator between Raven Saunders and me: both
African Americans, but feeling like athletic identity defined us. According to the Clinical Journal
of Sports Medicine, "Athlete identity is the degree to which individual views themselves within
the athletic role and looks to others for confirmation of that role." I didn't realize that my athletic
identity was harming my self-esteem. Not being able to perform on the field didn't make me feel
worthy of myself. My emotions were spiraling out of control. With social media having changed
how the entire world now communicates, one click on a button or swipe on a screen enables an
audience to criticize your performance. This constant fear of criticism from strangers can become
crippling. I often times found myself feeling invincible, and the constant fear of failure and
criticism was my kryptonite.
I was faced with the ultimate decision to transfer from Ball State after the 2017 season,
which ultimately ended my collegiate career playing football. I was inspired to create a new life
for myself. I didn’t like how I allowed a sport to dictate my happiness. I really wanted to have
control of my own destiny. I didn’t believe anymore that college football gave me that luxury. Of
all the people I felt like I was disappointing, telling my parents was the hardest.
Crossing Paths with The Uncertainty of The Future
On a Saturday morning in November, the sound of rainfall was pouring down from the
windows. A clap of thunder shook my entire room. I woke up from my sleep with anxious
8
thoughts. My hands were shaking, and my palms were sweaty. My heart was pounding while
reaching for my cell phone. Thoughts were racing through my mind while dialing my father's
phone number. I didn't know this day would finally come. It was during that moment reality
dawned on me.
The idea of telling my father that I didn't want to play collegiate football anymore was
paralyzing. As my father answered the phone, I sat in complete silence. Sweat poured down from
my forehead.
My father said, "Hello? Hello?..son, are you there?"
"I do not want to play football anymore, dad. I can't take this mental torture anymore."
All of a sudden, it felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. It was so quiet you could hear
a pin drop.
“Are you sure you want to make this decision, son?"
“Yes, I feel like I am being punished by my coaches because my legs weren’t healed. They are
not willing to let me heal 100 percent. So, I felt I needed to part ways. Being at Ball State is
becoming detrimental to my mental and physical health.”
My father said, “No sport is worth sacrificing either of those. I just want you to be happy.
I don’t want you to live through my dreams anymore. I want you to start making your own mark
on this world.” Hearing those words alleviated a burden from my shoulders. I listened to my dad
and pursued making the best decision of my life.
During the winter break of 2017, I sat down and thought about various career paths that
interested me. One career path that struck out to me was broadcast journalism. I was interested in
producing content that could bring various news to the public. Whether the content was radio or
television, I believed it would be fun to allow audiences to hear my voice and ideas on various
topics.
9
Growing up as a child, I was fascinated with the idea that each individual on this earth is
unique. I loved meeting new people and getting their perspectives on different topics. I felt that
my passion for others would make me a good fit for a career in journalism. I also grew up loving
to watch Chris Berman as an anchor on ESPN. Berman’s passion for sports and unique reporting
style would have me glued to the TV screen. Every Sunday, I felt connected to him when I
watched him deliver ESPN highlights. He brought joy to sports fanatics like myself because he
made sports what they should be: fun.
I thought pursuing a career in sports journalism would give me the power to use my
platform to help athletes bring their untold stories to life. I believe that athletes' stories could
inspire and motivate communities -- everyone has been part of a team. Hearing a story from an
athlete about teamwork would be a topic that anyone could relate to. People wouldn't have to be
an athlete to realize how valuable it is to be a team player in any aspect of life.
When One Door Closes, Another One Opens: Hunter Patterson Anecdote
I’m not alone in seeking an alternate path: There are numerous people in life who have
faced this same challenge of choosing a profession after their career in sports has come to an end.
Hunter Patterson was one of those people. He is working as a live news and events editor with
The Athletic, to produce breaking news in the sports world.
“Young Hunter Patterson playing basketball.”
“Growing up, I always wanted to play in the NBA. I played basketball my whole life, and
10
knew I wanted to be involved with sports.” Patterson told me, “Jimmy Spencer, the Head of
Athlete Content at Uninterrupted, was the first person to let me know I could work in sports
without actually playing.” Although Hunter was provided insight and empowerment from his
head coach to follow his new career path, he constantly faced personal struggles of no longer
being an athlete. Hunter stated,” That transition felt like a midlife crisis at the moment because
basketball was all I knew up to that point.”
However, Hunter embraced the challenge of adversity and turned a negative life
experience into a positive one. Once he stopped playing basketball during his senior year to focus
on sports journalism. He stated, “I decided to start a Twitter page for sports teams at my local
high school. That action became my senior project and began my sports journalism career.”
Hunter took various lessons he learned from playing basketball to help him spearhead his
new career path in sports journalism. Hunter said, “Sports have taught me plenty of transferable
skills, but the ability to be adaptable is the most important to me.” He followed, “In sports, you
constantly have to make adjustments throughout the game, and I see life the same way. Being
adaptable and knowing how to adjust at a moment’s notice have allowed me to reach the point in
my career.”
The Trials and Tribulations of a Phenomenal Young Athlete
A basketball with concealed laces sits in the palms of Kayode Dabokiu, a young player
looking to dribble, pass, and shoot. For a split moment, he looks up at the game clock. Seconds
start to tick away from the clock while simultaneously, a crowd of people sitting on the blue
bleachers locks their eyes on Kayode. While bouncing the ball back and forth, the fierce
competitor drives past the arc, backs down his defender, fades away, and launches the ball
towards the rim. Swish. Time seems to stand still, and the buzzer sounds as the ball falls
effortlessly through the basket. The crowd erupts into a loud noise. “MVP…MVP.” His
11
teammates sprint towards him and blanket Kayode with their arms. This is how Kayode’s life
was set up from an early age. A young star with a promising future.
“Young Kayode Dabokiu driving through the lane to score.“
]
Fast forward to seven years later, Kayode is 18 years old and entering his senior year at
Winton Woods High School. He is a 6 ft 5, 210-pound center. He walks through the halls
receiving praises from his peers and teachers. Kayode’s rise to stardom has been meteoric.
However, the following week his promising basketball career came to an end due to him
suffering an injury in high school that changed the course of his career.
“Kayode’s senior year scrimmage against Moeller High school “
Kayode said,” During the preseason of my senior year in high school, I tore my anterior
cruciate ligament. It was one of the worst days of my life.” Being 18 at the time and facing a life-
altering moment, Kayode began to experience symptoms of depression. Kayode stated, “I felt so
pessimistic about my basketball career during that moment of my life. I remember I used to feel
12
worthless. All I could do was watch my team on the bench. Sadness struck me the most during
senior night. Just being on a platform and having it taken away from you was a hard pill to
swallow during my recovery process.”
“Showcasing significance of the ACL”
While missing his senior year due to injury, Kayode was offered a basketball scholarship
by Brescia University. This offer gave him hope regarding his basketball career, but he was still
doubtful if he could return to being the same star player. Kayode stated, “When I fully recovered
from my injury, I used to think will I hurt it again. I would walk to our practice gym and get
anxious stepping on the court. I had never been seriously injured before, so I was facing a mental
hurdle every day. Really just trying to persevere to get over that hump.” Eventually, Kayode
overcame his fears of getting hurt again. He bounced back and started his four years for the
Brescia Bearcats. He suffered a few more minor injuries during his college career, but it didn’t
stop him from joining the 1,000 club and leaving his mark as a top ten all-time player in field
goals made in Brescia history. In the end, Kayode came to the awareness that it was time to end
his legacy as a player and not proceed to the professional level. He stated, “I had the opportunity
to go professional after I graduated with my bachelor's in the spring of 2020, but I felt like my
body was kind of wearing down. It was at that moment I realized I couldn’t play at that high level
professionally.”
13
“Kayode communicating with his teammate.”
Just like other former athletes, when they decide to stop playing sports after they were
programmed to operate in an environment over a long time, it takes time to adapt to a new career.
Kayode stated, “It took a while to adjust to getting used to not being an athlete full time. But after
a while, you just get used to it, and then people start to know you for something different.” This
also led Kayode into finding a new passion in life. Kayode said, ”So from graduating and being
done playing sports; I had worked and afterward for a while, began to not do anything. So I
decided to start finding a routine that was frequently going to the gym. Also, I began coaching
high school basketball players. This was a chance to stay connected to basketball and help other
young athletes.”
While being a high school coach, Kayode has acquired a lot of wisdom that he wants to
give to help young athletes in today’s society who are dealing with mental health. Kayode
stated, “Find out the best outlet that helps you deal with your mental health and then attack it
every day. If you need help, don't be scared to find help. Whether it be a friend or a therapist.
Just don't be ashamed of yourself. This is all about doing whatever it takes to become the best
version of yourself.”
14
Learning from Kayode’s journey was a rewarding experience for me. His experience
sparked curiosity within me to ask a question. What does it mean to be the best version of
yourself? Does it mean living up to your potential – or is there more to it? I believe student-
athletes internally struggle with this every day. Trying to excel and live up to their potential in the
classroom and on the field. If you’re like most human beings, these are the questions you’ve
pondered as you search for identity, confidence, and fulfillment in life. When the answers you
find fall short of your expectations, you start asking the really important questions that lead you
to understand how to maximize personal growth and be the best version of yourself.
Dr. Wason’s Views on Evolving into The Best Version of Yourself
This curiosity led me to conduct a personal interview with Dr. Sonali Wason. She is a
licensed clinical and sports psychologist and co-founder of LAPA. She decided to use her
interests and knowledge to be a resource for athletes. During our interview, Dr.Wason provided
me with great insight into how athletes should maximize their personal growth and become the
best version of themselves. Dr.Wason stated,” Tend to other pieces of yourself that are not related
to athletics. Always be intentional about feeding and nurturing the other parts of your life,
otherwise, it’s easy for those parts to die off.”
Participating in any sports can be time and energy-consuming. I recognized this can
condition athletes to become solely focused on their athletic goals. Forgetting that there are other
parts of themselves that can help them develop not only as an athlete but also as human being. I
often strayed away from having that mentality. During my younger years, I constantly challenged
myself to step out of my comfort zone and become multifaceted with my approach to life. I sang
in the school choir to enjoy being involved in music. As a result, I learned valuable lessons that
aided me in my development as a man. To illustrate, details are very important. If you do not pay
15
attention to the notes you are about to sing, you are likely to sing louder than everyone else.
Details are essential in any sport as well.
However, acquiring this wisdom in a different environment than sports allowed me to
stay on a positive mental health journey. I was just utilizing sports to help me develop my identity
and become well-rounded as a human being.
.
“ Dr. Sonali Wason headshot”
I believe that in the sports environment, being multifaceted and pouring oneself into
different hobbies outside of sports is not talked about enough. This can lead to athletes facing
mental health issues and falling into the athletic-identity syndrome. Yes, universities are investing
into allocating resources for student-athletes, but this allocation ultimately benefits the school
more than the athlete. For example, during my football career at Ball State University, my
coaches did not prepare any players for post-collegiate employment. There were no internships
set up or career networking opportunities provided in the offseason. Specifically, there were
fewer hours required for athletes to participate in football in the summer, but our daily routine
still revolved around football.
16
We are still expected to train and watch film to improve athletes’ gameplay and prepare
for fall camp. I am pretty sure that this occurs at other universities, and I believe that this is the
norm. While interviewing Dr.Wason, I asked her what advice she could give to players who are
preparing to give up their sport and transition into something else in life. Dr. Wason stated,
“When you enter into college playing any type of sport, always have a backup plan in case you
don’t play on the professional level. Use your leverage as an athlete to connect you with other
viable career opportunities and don’t allow your coaches solely do what’s best for them.
Ultimately, always do what is best for you.”
Having this approach can help athletes reduce the feeling that they are useless or do not
have any direction in transitioning into a new stage in life. Additionally, Dr.Wason wants to
encourage athletes to take their mental health seriously. Dr.Wason says, “This is just another
aspect of your health, your brain, and your body, all work in conjunction. So it's not even a
realistic thing to think that we could dismiss or avoid.”
Overall, Dr. Wason wants to inspire athletes to be really in tune with themselves and to
understand your mental wellness is an important component to your human growth. She stated,” I
think just being able to live your most authentic life and evolve into the best version of yourself.
You have to be willing to tend to your mental wellness.”
How Practicing Mindfulness Can Help Combat Feelings of Confusion
17
“Cameron Lynch playing for Tampa Bay Buccaneers.”
One former athlete that was always fully in tune with himself was Cameron Lynch.
Cameron Lynch is a former NFL player that played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los
Angeles Rams. He graduated from Syracuse University and created his own production media
company, Heartwork Media. During our interview, Cameron elaborated that a lot of student-
athletes enter the realm of uncertainty when transitioning from playing on the field to playing off
the field. Lynch stated, “When athletes are done playing sports, everything is just confusing.
What do I do? How do I get this done? This starts to give you anxiety because you are
accustomed to having someone plan things out for you that are related to your sport.” This can be
detrimental to an athlete’s mental health because fear of the unknown can trigger the
physiological state of stress. One of Cameron’s solutions to combating this feeling of uncertainty
was to practice mindfulness. Lynch said, “I practice meditation every day. I put that into my
routine because it’s a part of self-care.” Cameron suggests that meditation can preserve the aging
brain.
“A picture of the aging brain showcasing the result of stress and its effects.”
He stated, “When you meditate, you’re putting that oxygen on that brain, you know, you’re
refueling it. If you can recharge your brain, pour into yourself, it’s important.” Student-athletes
recognize that trying to juggle sports, academics, and personal life commitments may generate
stress and anxiety. Rizer et al. (2016) reported that 20% of college students experience extreme
18
stress and found the generation of millennials ages 18-33 have more stress than average
generations.
“Infographic about different variables that can contribute to an athlete’s mental health. “
Although Cameron did not have a long career in the NFL, he appreciated the invaluable
life lessons that sports teach athletes that they can apply to just about anything that they choose to
pursue for the rest of their lives. One of those many life lessons sticks with him to this day.
Cameron said, “I learned rent is due every day. I got to make sure that I’m ready to go and deliver
and execute because there’s always somebody coming up from the bottom trying to push you off
the pedestal.”
“Rent is due everyday quote”
19
One Coach’s Take on Mental Health Strategies and Support for Athletes
A coach is one person that can teach invaluable life lessons early on in an athlete’s
development. Appreciating and learning early that “the rent is due” and how your consistency
and healthy mindset contributes to that fact, will help you stay the course where others may have
failed. Coaches are important role models for athletes of all ages, and coach Bernard Caldwell is
definitely one of these role models. Bernard Caldwell was an assistant men’s basketball coach for
Miami Hamilton University and now coaches women’s high school basketball for the DePaul
Bruins. Throughout his coaching tenure, he has played a vital role in the contribution of the
physical and psychosocial development of many young men and women athletes.
“Coach Caldwell takes team photo with the lady Bruins”
In a personal interview, Bernard Caldwell described how he feels that coaches should
address mental health issues when they recognize them in players. Caldwell stated, ”Part of the
advocacy for student-athletes is caring about them off the court/field as well. Assisting them in
seeking help, promoting self-care, and being an ear or shoulder is how I would address a player
experiencing mental health issues.” Prior to COVID-19 mental health issues were not discussed
readily.
The pandemic caused players and coaches to revisit the subject of what a mentally
20
healthy athlete may look like. Athletes no longer had the freedom of being involved in getting
together to compete. Often, the fear or change of how the sport was played, or even if the game
would be played at all, caused many athletes to feel depression and anxiety. He said, “COVID-19
has brought the impact of mental health to the forefront. It has to be addressed and attended to
just as much if not even more than the physical health.” Overall, Bernard Caldwell wants to
encourage other coaches to help athletes foster their personal growth. Caldwell said, “As a coach,
you want your athletes to strive for competence. In the midst of this pandemic, you should inspire
your players always to have a positive view of themselves. Life and sports can take a mental toll
on them, but if you are constantly engaged and supportive, the chance that they will be okay both
mentally and physically goes up very high.“
“Coach Bernard Caldwell is on the left back row celebrating with his players after conference win.”
21
Conclusion
Life is full of many paths, and every person in this world has various unique journeys.
An athlete’s journey can be one of both challenges and decisions that are often hard to make or
conceptualize. Do I continue to play? Do I just say enough is enough when my mind is signaling
that the end of a career is near. Additionally, sports teach people life values such as the
importance of discipline, goal-oriented, consistency, and hard work. However, sports do not
emphasize the importance of expressing mental health concerns. This lack of expression
programs athletes to hide any signs of weaknesses or flaws. As a result, athletes are forced to deal
with an environment where humans from all over the globe believe that emotions should not be
shown or talked about. With that fact in mind, when human beings consider an athlete’s health,
they must consider all aspects of health. Specifically, the role mental health plays in any person’s
life.
Since, sports play such an instrumental role in many American families’ lives; whether
you grow up playing a sport or not, whether your dream is to become a collegiate or professional
athlete, sports make people happy. Being a successful athlete who makes people happy, is often
what motivates the emotionally charged athlete. If a player says enough is enough, who does it
affect. It not only affects the athlete, but ending a career often affects families, friends, and fans.
There can be a constant internal mental struggle, but getting help is ultimately the answer. Should
athletes simply suffer in silence when faced with these many questions/situations? The answer is
no. We must prioritize mental health in sports and support all athletes. Whether they are the star
player or the role player, athletes should not be ashamed or judged, and if they do find
themselves struggling mentally, please reach out and get help immediately. Your mind deserves
to be healed and your life is worth saving.
22
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Braatz, Lisa R. “Promoting Wellness for College ... - Augsburg University.” Accessed March 7, 2022.
https://idun.augsburg.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2075&context=etd.
Caldwell Bernard and David Keeling. Personal Interview, Feb 13th, 2022.
Dabokiu Kayode, and David Keeling. Personal Interview, January 29th , 2022.
Edison, Bianca R, Melissa A Christino, and Katherine H Rizzone. “Athletic Identity in Youth Athletes: A
Systematic Review of the Literature.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
MDPI, July 8, 2021.
Flanagan, Linda. “Why Are So Many Teen Athletes Struggling with Depression?” The Atlantic. Atlantic
Media Company, April 17, 2019. https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/04/teen-athletes-
mental-illness/586720/.
Germany, Edaise. “Performance Anxiety in Athletes.” LEAD, Inc. Official Blog, March 19, 2020.
https://leadnowdotorg.wordpress.com/2019/11/22/performance-anxiety-in-athletes/.
Sr. Keeling David, and David Keeling Jr . Personal Interview, October 18, 2021.
Lynch Cameron, and David Keeling. Personal Interview, January 31st, 2022.
“Mental Health Struggles in Student-Athletes and How to Prevent Them.” The Australian & New
Zealand Mental Health Association. Accessed March 7, 2022. https://anzmh.asn.au/blog/mental-
health/mental-health-struggles-student-athletes.
Mental Health in Sports - Mental Health Association of ...” Mental Health in Pro Sports - More Trails,
More Interesting Experiences. Accessed March 7, 2022. https://www.youhiking.com/mental-health-in-
pro-sports.
Mulkeen, Jon. “Saunders, On Her Journey From the Edge to Tokyo, Oregon and Beyond: Feature: WCH
22: World Athletics.” worldathletics.org. Accessed March 7, 2022.
https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-championships/oregon22/news/feature/raven-
saunders-usa-shot-put-2022.
Patterson Hunter, and David Keeling. Personal Interview, November 13th , 2021.
The American College of Sports Medicine Statement on Mental Health Challenges for Athletes.
ACSM_CMS. Accessed March 7, 2022. https://www.acsm.org/news-detail/2021/08/09/the-american-
college-of-sports-medicine-statement-on-mental-health-challenges-for-athletes.
Wason Sonali, and David Keeling. Personal Interview, February 21, 2022.
Abstract (if available)
Abstract
Any high-intensity or high-contact sporting activity can make a player vulnerable to injuries. In today’s world, sports enthusiasts from all over the globe have watched many players encounter brutal physical injuries. Yet, those same viewers do not see behind the scenes how this issue can affect players’ mental wellness. There are numerous instances of recreational or professional players forfeiting their careers due to mental illness. Further, a player not competing in their sport due to an injury can ignite stress and feelings of worthlessness. A recent study by the American College Health Association shows that 21% of athletes reported bouts of depression while participating in their sport. The report also suggests that the amount of athletes diagnosed with depressive disorder has increased by 10-15% within the last year.
These same athletes have to deal with the stress of acceptance, coaches’ expectations, validation from fans, and are still faced with the task of fulfilling their own desires and goals. As a result, players often force themselves to expedite their recovery process and find themselves returning to the playing field before they are fully healed. This self-destructive mindset can jeopardize athletes’ chances of a successful future career. Thus, this thesis is centered around what happens when an athlete becomes aware that his or her career has ended due to various mental and emotional health issues or from the direct complications of injury. Additionally, they realize that no longer participating in sports can adversely affect their mental health. Also, I utilized my personal experience to spread awareness regarding the stigma that athletes face when dealing with a mental health issue.
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Asset Metadata
Creator
Keeling, David Spencer, Jr.
(author)
Core Title
Overcoming mental health: the silent athlete kryptonite
School
Annenberg School for Communication
Degree
Master of Arts
Degree Program
Journalism (Specialized Journalism)
Degree Conferral Date
2022-05
Publication Date
05/02/2022
Defense Date
04/29/2022
Publisher
University of Southern California
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Mental Health,OAI-PMH Harvest
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Language
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