Under the Jersey: The Reality Behind Student-Athletes’ Mental Health

By Emily Cutair

College athletes often push themselves beyond their capacity, shaping their confidence and identity in
numerous ways. However, under the jersey can lie a hidden battle of internal doubts, threatening their
mental well-being daily.

As conversations surrounding mental health have become more normalized, Flagler College staff
and student-athletes say the emotional strain is real and worth talking about.

Jessie Gates, a Flagler track and cross-country athlete, describes the stress of being up before the sun and the many other responsibilities she must juggle on a daily basis.

“Some days are easy, some days are tough, but what matters is how you bounce back and
appreciate the effort and dedication,” she said.

Most athletes remain “mentally tough” in order to rise above challenges during competition.
Gates said she leans on support from her teammates to help push herself in races and practices,
making her more resilient.

Another athlete, Griffin Moore, a captain of the men’s lacrosse team, said carrying the emotional weight of balancing leadership and the societal pressures of being a man weighs heavily.

“As men, we are taught to keep everything inside and be tough. But sometimes, keeping things inside only makes you lash out or take it out on the people closest to you,” Moore said. “It can be a hard thing to do, but talking to someone is very important if you are struggling mentally.”

While he struggles with feeling split between captaining his team, his own needs and game-time pressure, he focuses his energy on helping his younger teammates, which in turn helps him.

Even coaches who were previously athletes themselves faced the same pressures. Shelby
Capobianco-Hogan, assistant coach for the women’s lacrosse team, once played at the highest
level herself at the Division I Johns Hopkins University.

She understands the roller coaster of emotions athletes navigate, and from her own experience, she thinks that understanding your teammates will help you become better yourself.

“Take a step back and, one, understand that the person next to you is probably going through the same thing, and, two, recognize that your coaches have either been through that situation or something similar,” Capobianco-Hogan said.

Beyond the stress of sports, an athlete’s struggle with identity becomes the most challenging. Registered mental health counseling intern and former Olympian Mandy James understands this concept deeply.

“Being able to support both the student and the athlete is key,” James said. “Young athletes can
lose themselves in their sport, and my goal is to help the athlete never have to feel like that.”

Having a counselor there for athletes is crucial for improving mental health. She hopes that they will come to her at any time, not just when they’re seeking help. “You don’t have to have a hard event in your life for you to come in as an athlete and talk to us. We’re here for all seasons of an athlete’s life, and starting at square one can help us prepare athletes for those challenges they will ultimately face as a college athlete,” she said.

However, many student-athletes are unaware that James is an asset to them. Located in the Tinlin house, she’s there to talk to athletes seeking help and provide professional care.

Many athletes might mask their emotions, but talking about your struggles doesn’t make you weak, it makes you strong. James believes the more athletes come to her, the better their performance and lives in sports will become.

Athletes at Flagler agree there are outlets for them if needed, however, having more accessible
resources and open discussions could reduce negative self-talk. They hope that in the future, colleges will create an athletic culture where physical well-being isn’t the only priority, and that mental health receives the same level of care within athletic programs.

“We need to make mental health a priority and really instill it into our culture for the athletes at
Flagler,” James said. “Making it a part of the way athletes are raised in our programs will not
only better them in their sport, but it’ll go beyond college and into the rest of their lives.”