The Unseen Injury: Mental health of athletes

Darius Madalena

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"Sharing One Skin"- Jeanette Armstrong

In the article “Sharing One Skin” there’s a lady named Jeanette Armstrong, an activist on indigenous sovereignty. She’s a member of the traditional council of the Penticton Indian Band. Talks about getting closer to their community to prevent confusion and chaos. Jeanette talks about how she only speaks for her heritage and improvement in communities. She also talks about how communities can fix and improve things to protect the earth from crisis.

"And Then I Went to School"- Joe Suina

In the article “And I Went to School” the author talks about a Native American child that only had knowledge about his pueblo and culture ways. However, over the years as technology grew in his pueblo. When he was sent to school he was only taught the whiteman way of learning. The more he went to school the more he was separated from his culture. Towards the end of the article he almost lost his cultural identity because of the school being so far from his pueblo.

"How names impact the way we see landscapes"

- B "Toastie" Oaster

In this article, “How Place Names impact the way we see landscape” is about a guy named Cash that talks about how named places have an impact. Also how places are named after colonizers and Native name places because of distinct features. Cash asked a Native lady named Tohe to talk about how they need permission to use the name of a dead person. Lastly how using colonizer names be the trauma of dispossession fresh.

History

"Get your Head in the Game"

Student-athletes have lots of things on their plate everyday. With over 500,000 athletes, over the years athletes got more attention due to the rise in signs of depression and anxiety. People were able to identify several factors that influence the mental health of athletes. With being able to identify factors they were able to identify the cause of depression and anxiety. the common ones are life events, ways of thinking, and external influence. The mental health of athletes is unique compared to non-athletes.

---. “Get Your Head in the Game!: A Review of Factors That Impact Collegiate Student-Athlete Mental Health Using a Biopsychosocial-Structural Framework.” Current Psychiatry Reports, vol. 27, no. 5, Apr. 2025, pp. 326–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-025-01598-5.

How the NCAA is prioritizing Mental Health

Over the years athletes lose the love for their sport due to mental health. the NCAA is taking precautions because of the rise in sports-betting. these precautions are for the athletes safety from harassment. The NCAA is finding way to protect athletes and minimize problems. So they required services and support for the athletes. NCAA had school facilitate environments for physical and mental health within athletes.

---. “How The NCAA Is Prioritizing Mental Health.” NCAA.org, 8 May 2024, www.ncaa.org/news/2024/5/1/media-center-how-the-ncaas-prioritizing-mental-health.aspx.

NCAA Student-athlete Health and Wellness Study

All over the country student-athletes deal with mental health issues. no matter the gender or race, athlete or not we all deal with mental health problems. Its apart of life. So the NCAA made ways to support student-athletes who need help. Over the year factors came into place about mental health good and bad. Some athletes weren't comfortable goin to their coach about mental health problems.

---. “Current Findings on Student-Athlete Mental Health.” NCAA Student-Athlete Health and Wellness Study, 2023, ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/research/wellness/Dec2023RES_HW-MentalHealthRelease.pdf.

Current State of the Issue

HeadStrong: Mental Health and Sports - NBC Sports

An NFL player named Hayden Hurst a tight end for the Baltimore Ravens. Hayden Hurst talked about his mental health story and how it effected him. Hayden played baseball, football, and basketball. However, played he chose to focus on baseball. He played baseball in college. While playing he started to lose the love for the game and hide his emotion from everyone. After college he got drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, he still struggled emotionally and mentally. After 3 years of playing in the MLB he changed his path and played football. After playing and getting noticed he got drafted. After a few years he created the Hayden Hurst Family Foundation to help others with mental health struggles.

Strength Isn't Just Physical: Exploring Athletes Mental Health

All athletes struggle with mental health issues, all ages. Recently medical fields and sport organizations gave recognition to the mental health of athletes. In 2019 studies shown that about 35% of top athletes have mental health concerns. In 2022, study showed that females dealt with mental exhaustion, sadness, and anxiety. Lastly, since 2021 NIL deals became a big factors in putting pressure on college athletes and high school prospects.

Global Connections

DESIblitz: How Jahangir Khan Redefined Excellence in Squash

The article “DESIblitz: How Jahangir Khan Redefined Excellence in Squash” is about a 17 year old kid from Pakistan who was one of the best squash players. Suffering with severe hernia and was told not to play squash anymore. Khan had physical challenges to deal with throughout his time playing squash. Khan did not get to play for the 1979 World Championships. After Khan’s older brother passed away due to a heart attack. Khan stepped away from squash because it was his brother's favorite thing.

5 Fabulous Jews in Sports, From the Field to the Front Office

There aren't just athletes in the US. This article is about recognizing Jewish athletes that are on the big stage around the world. Also some of the Jewish athletes that don't get recognized playing their sport. The article talks about how they had to fight for your spot on the team. They had to work twice as hard to be recognized. Once recognized they made sure to put their country on the map by making big impacts on the teams they played on.

Shining a Light on the Unseen Athletes: stories of exclusion and resistance among gay athletes in professional team sports

Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community is already are on some as is. With being dislike by many. Also being an athletes makes in even more difficult. LGBTQ+ athletes have been more visible in the professional realm. however, to some people visibility does not equate to acceptance and inclusivity. Through all the insults and harassment "out" people still manage to play the sport they love. With the insults messing with their mental state "out" athletes choose to pursue careers in individual sports. Numerous athletes decide not to come out before retirement.

Action Plan #1

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