Athletes often do not have the support or resources to explore and take care of their mental well-being, which can have a very negative impact. The following research shows just how important it is that athletes have a space to talk about their mental health.

*A 2015 study demonstrates that student athletes report higher levels of negative emotional states than non-student athlete adolescents (The Atlantic, 2019).

*With 1 in 5 teenagers living with mental health concerns, studies show that injuries, emotional stress, and physical strain put high school athletes at higher risk for anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation than their non-athlete peers (Ohio University, 2020).

*Among professional athletes, data shows that up to 35% of elite athletes experience a mental health crisis which may manifest as stress, eating disorders, burnout, or depression and anxiety (Athletes for Hope, 2021).

Familiarize yourself with the Athletes’ Minds Matter (AMM) guidebook and club-how-to guide so you know exactly what you’ll be sharing with your school’s athletic department.

Take a look at the guidebook here

Take a look at the club-how-to guide here

Now that you’re familiar with what AMM is and why it’s important, it’s time to reach out to your school’s athletic department and advocate for Athletes’ Minds Matter to be implemented into team practices.

Use the club-how-to guide to identify athletic department staff and send an email to request a meeting (be sure to include your club sponsor)!

Be prepared to explain the importance of AMM and how to use it by using this PowerPoint presentation in your meeting with athletic department staff. You got this!