Author’s note: I’m writing this in the wake of another NFL player’s untimely passing due to suicide. In 2025 alone, the deaths of Rudi Johnson, Kyren Lacy, Ricky Hatton, and Marshawn Kneeland, just to name a few, have sent shockwaves throughout the sports community. I hope to provide resources in this article, and perhaps ideas, that will inspire action to save lives. There’s no magic answer to this epidemic. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Mental health is deeply complicated. However, as a survivor of mental illness, I wholeheartedly believe we can do more. We’ve been talking about it, which is truly an incredible first step, but now it’s time to be about it in all facets of our lives. If you are struggling and have nowhere else to turn, dial 988 or 911.
When news breaks of another athlete lost to suicide, my heart sinks a little deeper. It’s a painful reminder that too many people are still struggling in silence. While mental health affects every single person, mental health in sports teams, especially, hits home for me because of my background growing up in sports and the athletes I work with today. It reminds me that, even with all the progress we’ve made, there’s still more to do. Real change happens when we turn those conversations into systems that prevent silent suffering and create a culture where asking for help is strength, not shame.
The sports world, in particular, has made major progress in bringing mental health into the spotlight and into its organizations. Athletes are speaking up. Teams are starting to talk about it, and most have sports psychologists on staff. Leagues are implementing policies and providing resources. But, as we’re also seeing, awareness alone doesn’t protect athletes from struggling in silence.
The conversation is open. Now it’s time to build systems that back it up.
Why is mental health in sports teams still overlooked?
Despite growing awareness, one reason that mental health in sports teams is often overlooked is that most organizations focus on crisis response instead of prevention. Secondly, in many cases, it falls on the athlete to take the first step, whether that’s seeking out the practitioner on staff, reaching out to the league for resources and benefits, or seeking individual counsel.
The problem is that this approach assumes that athletes feel safe taking the step to get help, and often they don’t. There are many reasons why players might hesitate to go to their team for mental health help. Fear of judgment, concern about playing time, lack of trust, or uncertainty about confidentiality are just a few. This is part of the conversation we need to pay closer attention to.
We’ve made tremendous progress over the last several years. Athletes now have a platform to talk about mental health, and more teams are offering resources than ever before. Even fans and media are appreciative of their vulnerability. However, despite these advancements, we can still cast a wider net.
The next step is to be proactive by building systems that support mental health every day. Simple practices like daily mental check-ins, ongoing education, and integrating mental performance training into weekly schedules can help normalize care, reduce stigma, and meet players where they are at as human beings.
The Progress We’ve Made in Sports Mental Health, and What’s Still Missing
As mentioned above, there’s no denying that we’ve made meaningful progress in addressing player mental health. However, even with these steps forward, the statistics, private conversations, and headlines tell another story.
Research shows that athletes still hesitate to ask for help. A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that stigma and fear of appearing weak continue to prevent athletes from seeking support even when resources are available (Chang et al., 2016).
Another study from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health highlighted how combining mental performance education with mental health awareness improves both well-being and athletic outcomes (Gavrilova et al., 2022).
“As an athlete, I would’ve never told you I was struggling… I feel like I’m conditioned in a way like that. I feel like, honestly, as a man, I’m conditioned in that way.” Dan Orlovsky
The message is clear: Talking about mental health isn’t enough. We need consistent, proactive training to make it part of a daily environment that gives athletes the confidence and knowledge to really make a significant impact.
The Reality of Mental Health in Professional and Contact Sports
Many athletes live with ongoing mental health challenges long before a crisis ever occurs. The reality is that mental health issues are far more common in sports than most realize.
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) reports that up to 35% of elite athletes experience mental health challenges such as disordered eating, burnout, depression, and anxiety. These concerns often go untreated due to stigma, limited access to care, and the culture of silence around vulnerability in sport (ACSM, 2023)
Contact and combat sports bring additional layers of risk. A 2025 study from the Boston University CTE Center found a clear link between repetitive head impacts in sports like football, hockey, and boxing and long-term brain damage associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Researchers emphasized that athletes who had repetitive head impacts can experience “a slew of negative brain changes, including neuron loss, inflammation, and vascular damage.” The study notes that these changes were visible even among those who didn’t have CTE. (Boston University, 2025).
Concussions and CTE are major contributors to these patterns. The Concussion Legacy Foundation notes that CTE-related behavioral symptoms often include explosive anger, impulse control problems, depression, and suicidal thoughts — issues that can intensify years after an athlete retires (Concussion Legacy Foundation, 2024).
Retirement itself can be another breaking point. According to the NFL Players Association, ongoing wellness initiatives show that many former players struggle with identity, isolation, and post-career adjustment, often leading to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Their Health & Wellness program is designed to provide proactive support and resources to help former players navigate these challenges (NFLPA, 2023).
A landmark study of more than 2,500 retired professional football players found a clear link between concussion history and depression risk later in life. Researchers discovered that players who had experienced three or more concussions were three times more likely to be diagnosed with depression, while those with one or two concussions were about 1.5 times more likely compared to players with no concussion history. The study controlled for factors such as age, career length, and physical health conditions, confirming that recurrent concussions independently increased the risk of clinical depression (Guskiewicz et al., 2007).
Taken together, we can see even clearer that the athlete lifestyle of learning to push through injuries, silence emotions, and perform under pressure, can make it harder to ask for help later. The data is catching up to what players themselves have been experiencing for decades.
Build Proactive Systems That Support Mental Health
When I had my son, I was given a mental health questionnaire at every doctor’s appointment during his first year. It was part of a standard screening to monitor postpartum wellness.
That process made me think. Why aren’t we doing this in other parts of our lives, like in sports?
Imagine if mental health were treated with the same structure as physical conditioning. Teams track hydration, recovery, and performance data every day. Yet emotional well-being often depends on whether someone happens to notice a change in behavior or mood, or if an athlete speaks up. That is an ineffective system for something so many people can easily hide.
A simple daily check-in could help change that.
How are you doing today on a scale of 1-10?
– Coach Misty Buck
A one-question survey asking, “How are you doing today on a scale of 1 to 10?” isn’t complicated, but it builds awareness and accountability. (It’s why I built this exact feature into my free Zenletes app.)
This simple question gives staff real-time insight into how players are doing. Secondly, it gives athletes permission to acknowledge how they feel without judgment. Plus, they don’t have to talk about emotions; they can share a number, which might be a way more comfortable form of expression.
Some days the answer will be a 9. Other days it might be a 3. The goal isn’t to fix or manage emotions immediately. It’s to normalize self-awareness and make mental health part of the daily rhythm of team life.
Teams, coaches, trainers, and even peers can implement this check-in in a number of ways. It could be required for everyone in the room to give their number at meetings or a film review. It could also be a requirement that athletes track this on an app each day. The possibilities are vast.
This kind of proactive approach moves care from reactive to preventive by building relationships. It helps teams identify patterns, trends, and early signs of burnout before they become crises. Moreover, it builds trust. When an athlete feels seen and valued as a person, they are far more likely to speak up when it matters most.
Create Trusted Spaces for Honest Conversations
Even with more awareness, many athletes may still struggle to open up. The fear of being judged, labeled, or misunderstood is still a very big factor. The idea that mental health challenges signal weakness remains one of the strongest barriers to getting help.
Inside sports, we know that mental toughness is paramount, but outside of sports, you never know what someone has learned (or not learned) about emotions and mental wellness. For example, it’s not uncommon for me to speak with an athlete who hesitates to get help or even have a conversation, because they were taught to suck it up and deal with it on their own.
Teams can change that by building environments rooted in trust. There’s a saying: A safe space is a consistent space. That starts with having a dedicated and regular system (like the one mentioned above), but also with how conversations happen.
Confidentiality, empathy, and consistency matter. Athletes should know that what they share won’t cost them their spot, playing time, sponsor deals, or their reputation.
Leaders play a huge role here. When coaches, captains, or support staff model vulnerability, it sets the tone for everyone else. When someone in leadership says, “I’ve felt that way too,” it opens the door for others to do the same.
This is in stark contrast to the way that some coaches are comfortable leading. There are still plenty of coaches who feel it’s their job to make players tough by being hard on them and essentially trying to break them or make them quit. They believe that this builds resilience and mental toughness.
Some players thrive competitively in that environment, and some never recover from it. But that’s the whole point: We have to coach based on where people are at. I think there’s a balance that can be incorporated into a team culture where mental toughness and mental wellness can coexist.
What if we’re not just focused on winning games, but also holistically supporting the human being? I get that there’s a difference between a locker room and a therpist’s office, however, just like we see in corporations, when you take care of your people, the team is better as a whole.
So, what if the culture emphasizes resilience, but also gives athletes the tools and the space to learn how to do this in a healthy way that actually improves mental wellness and performance?
Just like everything else in sports, it starts with having a system and being consistent. Safe spaces aren’t built overnight. They’re built through repeated actions that prove the culture is real.
Make Mental Health and Mental Performance Part of Weekly Training
As implied above, I believe that mental health and performance training should be as routine as strength and conditioning.
Athletes are used to structure. They thrive on systems. When mental performance and mental wellness training become part of that system, it changes the way athletes handle stress, pressure, and emotion.
Examples of this type of training can include:
- Emotional regulation tools that help athletes recognize what’s happening in their bodies and respond intentionally. (This also helps protect their physical health. Imagine that.)
- Science behind thoughts, emotions, and performance.
- Focus and mindfulness sessions to build presence under pressure.
- Education recovery, stress response, and mindset.
- Training on mental health symptoms, emotional expression, and how to ask for help.
- Reflective exercises to process frustration, comparison, and setbacks.
- Mental health first aid training for coaches, staff, and athletes.
- Brain health education.
When an athlete understands how their mind and body work together, they make better decisions, recover faster, and handle adversity with composure. So you’re helping them protect their mental wellness and their bodies.
A Team Model for the Future
I believe that the future of mental health in sports teams won’t be built on one program or one initiative. If we are to truly serve athletes, we have to serve the whole human being, and that starts by building a consistent action plan that’s woven into the system.
A proactive system can start simple:
- A daily check-in survey to raise awareness.
- Weekly team discussions, peer groups, or workshops led by trusted professionals.
- Have diverse therapists and life coaches in common areas, from the weight room to the lunchroom, chatting with the players and staff to build relationships and comfort.
- Weekly mental performance sessions that focus on education, resilience, and mental wellness tools.
The structure should fit the team’s rhythm, just like any other part of training. The goal is that over time, these habits create an environment where mental health support is as normal as physical training, nutrition, and physical therapy, rather than something that is risky.
The Benefits of a Proactive Mental Health System
Again, this is about being proactive by creating a system that’s a normal part of the day-to-day life of an athlete. The action plan should aim for the outcome of a mental health player development program that promotes stronger, more self-aware athletes who carry those skills into life after sports.
The benefits of a program like this on sports teams are vast. Here are just a few:
1. Athletes build self-awareness that lasts beyond the game.
Daily check-ins and consistent conversations about emotions teach players how to identify what they’re feeling and why. This is a skill that helps them navigate transitions, relationships, and challenges long after their playing days are over.
2. They’re better prepared for life after sports.
When athletes understand that mental wellness is something normal, they will be more likely to carry that mindset into their next chapter and accept support.
3. It strengthens trust and connection within the team.
A system built on regular communication and compassion makes athletes feel seen as people first. This translates into better communication, leadership, and team chemistry.
4. It redefines toughness.
When coaches and organizations treat mental health as part of performance, it removes stigma and shows that strength includes vulnerability, recovery, and emotional intelligence, are keys to reslience.
5. It protects athletes in ways we can’t always see.
Proactive systems are more likely to catch burnout and emotional fatigue early. They help players regulate stress, recover faster, and prevent the quiet suffering that too often leads to crisis.
Every athlete deserves an environment that sees them as a whole person, not just a performer. And, every program that takes this step moves us closer to a culture where no one feels alone, where mental health is part of preparation, and where athletes can truly thrive.
Want help building mental health into your team’s culture and performance strategic action plan? Let’s chat. I have lots of ideas on how we can support and integrate innovative and effective mental wellness and mental performance into your organization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sports teams can improve athletes’ mental health by making it part of daily operations instead of treating it as a crisis service. Consistent check-ins, education, and open conversations about emotions and pressure help athletes feel supported, reduce stigma, and create stronger team trust.
Education helps athletes understand how their thoughts, emotions, and physical state connect. When they learn self-regulation skills and emotional awareness, they can recover faster from setbacks, stay focused, and build long-term resilience on and off the field.
Mental health and performance are deeply connected. Training them together allows athletes to learn valuable skills such as how to manage stress, focus under pressure, and sustain motivation without burnout. Combining both builds confident, balanced competitors who are more likely to work on their inner game. In addition, some people are more comfortable approaching mental health from a performance angle, and vice versa for others.
Coaches can model openness by talking about mental well-being in the same way they discuss physical training. Creating a culture where players feel safe to share, offering professional support when needed, and checking in regularly all strengthen the foundation of team trust.