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As the world places a spotlight on mental health during National Men’s Health Awareness Month in June, it’s crucial to address the unique challenges faced by male athletes. Although conversations about mental health in athletics are becoming more acceptable, it’s still often overlooked or not properly addressed.
According to Mental Health America:
In addition to various mental health risk factors, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, better known as CTE, is a prevalent problem. A 2023 report published by Boston University’s CTE Center found “345 former NFL players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) out of 376 former players studied (91.7 percent).” The report goes on to caution, “The NFL player data should not be interpreted to suggest that 91.7 percent of all current and former NFL players have CTE, as brain bank samples are subject to selection biases. The prevalence of CTE among NFL players is unknown as CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death.”
Some men may display symptoms of mental health issues differently than women. This is not to say that all men or genders experience mental health disorders in the same way. However, some common symptoms often occur.
As noted by the National Institute on Mental Health, some common symptoms of mental disorders and conditions in men include:
You might hear a man say, “I’m fine,” but maybe there is more going on. The men I’ve worked with and supported over the years have often hidden their true feelings because they feel like they have to carry all problems on their shoulders. There is a stigma that they need to be strong for everyone around them. So, they keep their struggles to themselves to keep up appearances, and also because they have learned that is what they are supposed to do.
Take clues from how they speak and act. For example, they might tell you flat out, “I’m tired.” This may be their way of saying I’m not doing well. If you hear a phrase like this one several times, ask more questions.
I have had both, male clients and friends who have told me they are tired, and later revealed that they struggled with depression and even suicidal thoughts. Some could just be tired, or there could be more to the story.
Several prominent athletes have courageously shared their mental health battles, helping to break the stigma. Still, sharing a mental health struggle is personal, and many athletes respectfully choose not to go public with their battles. Although courageous and impactful, is not whether a person goes public about their mental health problems that matter the most; what matters is that the athlete seeks help.
Here are just a few of the male athletes who have spoken about their mental health struggles so far in 2024:
Joe Burrow opened up about his mental health struggles following an injury. In an article that appeared on CBSSports.com, he says:
“Whenever the injuries start to stack up, your football mortality kind of comes into the back of your mind. So, that’s definitely something I’ve thought about and something I have had to fight through.”
Golf is known to be an often lonely and mentally demanding sport. Wyndham Clark recently spoke about this in an interview with BBC Sports.
“The unfortunate thing for what we do is it is so lonely and it’s very difficult.
“I’ve been in many low spots where you have some negative thoughts which you don’t ever want to have.”
In the article, Clark talks about learning to manage expectations as part of his mental well-being.
“Too often players, including myself, get tied up so much in score and outcome, and the game of golf is so frustrating and so hard.”
“There are those really lonely times when you miss the cut, you throw your clubs in the car, you drive off, and you’re [angry].
“On TV they typically show the guys playing great, the game seems awesome. In reality, I’d say 80% of the field storms off after a lot of the rounds.
“That’s just the nature of our game. That’s why it is such a mental game. I’ve learned that there are so many different skill levels out here, and the difference between the guys that really make it and enjoy the game have a long career, they’re just better mentally than everyone.”
Lionel Messi is no stranger to the spotlight as one of the most famous athletes in the world. He recently shared about his mental health struggles and how a psychologist helped him.
Former Kansas City Chiefs running back, Jamaal Charles, was a guest on the Second Acts Podcast, where he spoke candidly about his retirement from the game and his mental health. The episode was also shared on ChiefsWire.
“I basically went into a dark side. No one came forward to guide me through the transition to life after football. I went to work with investment people, and it didn’t go well. I started losing money, so I started becoming very depressed and suicidal. Still trying to find my way going through that situation and transition. It was hard for me because I didn’t know who to lean on or where the help was coming from.”
He goes on to say, “I talked to a therapist to talk about suicidal thoughts, talk about the hard times. At the time, I was still in therapy, and I still am today.”
Most organizations now have mental health clinicians, counselors, and programs. However, if you are a retired athlete, you may no longer have access to that individual. Secondly, some athletes are not comfortable with speaking to organizational resources out of fear of broken confidentiality and retaliation that could affect their careers.
Still, there is mental health support widely available for athletes. These include:
Admitting you need support, and then taking the steps to ask for it and show up, might be the hardest thing you do. It takes a lot of courage to admit when you’re not okay, which is something that many men struggle with. Think about it this way, asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak; it means you’re a fighter. Never stop fighting for yourself.
In a crisis? Call or text 988.
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