Student-athlete mental health:
Hi there! We are a couple of student-athletes here at Dover who are passionate about mental health & are keen to normalise talking about mental health, especially as student-athletes. 

• We sent out a form to student-athletes and after many discussions, we've found some resources which we think may be useful! 

• They have been divided into sub-categories and we have tried to find short links so that it doesn't take too much time!

• Before our identity as an athlete, it is important to recognise that first and foremost we are human beings.
  - IOC Consent in Sport Animation

• Sports can help shape our identity, but there is so much more that makes us who we are!
  - 6 things every retiring athlete needs to hear

• Pressure is inevitable as a student-athlete. It comes in so many forms like balancing our priorities and playing well.
  - 3 steps to deal with pressure

• Pressure isn't always a bad thing, it can push us to perform at a high level. However, how can we handle and stop the pressure from becoming too overwhelming?
  - Michael Phelps’s Favorite De-Stress Technique Is So Simple, Anyone Can Do It
  
  

• Simone Biles & Team USA redefining what mental toughness is. Mental toughness is not pushing yourself past your extreme. World-class athletes such as Simone Biles speaking up about mental health.
  - Simone Biles and Team USA Redefine Mental Toughness

• We all need a break sometimes. If we are physically injured, it is completely okay to take a break. If we are mentally not in a good space, it's okay to take a break too as physical health = mental health!
  - Naomi Osaka --> "its okay not to be okay"

• The toll of the pandemic on athletes: so many of us have been left without competitive games, which is often one of the best parts of being a student-athlete
  - The weight of gold → documentary

• We are often pressured to always be "strong" and "tough" in sports and there is often a misconception that taking a break is a sign of weakness. Contrary to this, taking a break could be one of the strongest things you can do, as you are honouring and prioritising yourself!
  - Athletes are changing what mental health at work means

• If we aren't feeling our best, taking an indefinite break is valid. Putting more pressure on ourselves to return to our top level could lead to even faster rates of burnout.
  - Ben Stokes takes an indefinite break from cricket to focus on mental health

• We are under constant scrutiny from coaches, opponents and teachers when we are playing, and often, we feel the need to impress those around us. Performance anxiety to a certain degree can help us perform well. However, if it becomes too overwhelming, playing sports becomes something too stressful, instead of being an outlet for us to de-stress!
  - Victoria Garrick → Performance Anxiety Realpod 

• So what exactly is performance anxiety? What factors dictate the chances of us facing performance anxiety? Learning a few tips on how to handle performance anxiety could greatly help us feel less stressed while playing, and enjoy the experience of being a student-athlete more!
  - What is performance anxiety and how to deal with it?

• How can we turn the nerves we have into excitement? Simon Sinek offers us a few ways to help us handle pressure and how we can differentiate between pressure and excitement.
  - Simon Sinek on Training Your Mind to Perform Under Pressure