A call to action for proactive mental health management in collegiate athletics / Sports Business Journal
By Walt Norley
8.21.2024
Ohio State vs. Michigan. Duke vs. UNC. Alabama vs. Auburn. These rivalries fuel the passion of sports fans, but behind the scenes, a different battle rages -- the silent struggle of student athletes facing mental health challenges.
Suicides among U.S. college athletes have doubled over the past two decades, according to recent studies highlighted by CNN from the British Journal of Sports Medicine. With suicide now the second leading cause of death among these young individuals, families affected by these tragedies are pursuing lawsuits, seeking compensation in the eight figures.
Despite these staggering numbers, many universities continue with business as usual, clinging to outdated strategies that fail to address the root causes of mental health issues. It’s as if the whole city block is on fire, but everyone is still finishing their dinner, oblivious to the urgency of the crisis at hand.
As someone who has founded businesses focused on solving problems with innovative solutions, I recognize the need for proactive management, which is even more essential in mental health care management. The current strategies are simply not enough.
Universities have made efforts to bolster counseling resources and implement common EMR databases, but these tactics remain largely reactive, failing to address mental health challenges before they escalate.
It’s time to disrupt this stagnant industry with the power of technology.
When telemedicine first emerged, many doubted its effectiveness, especially for psychiatric care, which traditionally relied on face-to-face interactions. But COVID-19 forced a change, making telemedicine a necessity. Now, instead of patients knocking on office doors and doctors ringing doorbells, they’re pinging smartphones, bringing “house calls” into the digital age. This technological shift interrupted the status quo of health care. What once seemed improbable is now a crucial part of health care, improving access and convenience for patients. Embracing new technology takes time, but it’s vital in driving significant strides in medicine. AI offers a chance to revolutionize mental health care in collegiate athletics by analyzing performance data, predicting trends, and preventing crises to proactively support athletes, enhance their well-being and save lives.
It’s time for the leaders in college sports to embrace today’s technologies leading toward proactive mental health management and cultivate an environment where athletes can seek care without judgment.
As a former student athlete, I cannot imagine the pressures of managing social media criticism, NIL expectations, and the transfer portal. All one-big-system overload for a 17- to 22-year-old. Athletes tend to carry a larger-than-life persona, projecting an image of strength in the public eye. The reality behind the jersey can be vastly different. Sadly, you read countless articles of parents recalling memories of their late kid, sharing how they were happy and in great spirits. Unfortunately, many athletes may seem happy on the exterior, but they are grappling with mental health challenges behind closed doors, away from the people they love most.
Athletes want to feel safe and receive care without judgment. Checking in with a coach or athletic trainer about a physical injury is widely accepted and encouraged. However, when it comes to addressing mental health challenges, athletes can feel hindered by stigmas resulting in insecurities about demotion on the depth chart or riding the pine.
Unlike physical injuries, mental health challenges often lack straightforward diagnoses as you can’t see them. Depression and anxiety don’t show up on X-rays or MRIs, yet they can be just as limiting and debilitating as a sprained ankle or broken wrist. AI can change that, by recognizing and predicting indicators of treatment patterns trending in a negative direction, leading to timely proactive interventions to support athletes’ well-being before crises emerge.
Talking about mental health is great, but it is time to truly move the needle. We must continue to have honest, open discussions while also creating tangible solutions. While AI and technology cannot single-handedly solve this crisis, it can provide vital tools to recognize and predict mental health struggles. By leveraging these advancements, technology can offer proactive, data-driven approaches to mental health management, aligning with the broader goals of collegiate athletics: get athletes back into competition sooner and at peak performance.
The call to action is clear. We must leverage technology to shift from reactive to proactive mental health management for collegiate athletics. It’s time for leaders in college athletics to embrace this change and invest in solutions that offer sustainable benefits.
We can't afford to lose any more athletes from the silent killer of suicide.
The lives of our student athletes depend on it.
Walt Norley, founder and CEO of OnBalance, is an advocate for mental health in collegiate athletics, drawing from his experiences as a former Division I athlete, tech entrepreneur, and someone who has managed with bipolar disorder for over four decades.
https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/08/21/oped-21-norley