SMU Athletics

The main factors contributing to the stigma around mental health issues:

• A lack of recognition. Mental health issues are difficult to spot, so can often go unnoticed and unmentioned.
• There's a refusal to acknowledge the problem. Some coaches do not want to lose a top performer or face the fact that they could contribute to their team's mental health.
• The idea that athlete must be strong: There is a lack of psychological safety in the athletics community that makes athletes worried about what their peers and coaches will think of them if they shred their mental health issues.
• Athletes fear the loss of their scholarship. Athletes are worried that if they take a step back from their sport, they will be kicked off the team.
• Fear of failure/disappointing others. Athletes could feel guilty for having poor mental health.