Mental health is a big problem in the lives of high school student athletes. The number of student athletes who struggle has been increasing in the past 2 years due to the pressures they face in school and performing in their sports. 

Student athletes dedicate many hours of their lives to being inside the classroom as well as practicing their sport once the school day has ended. Research has shown that “91% of high school students have reported feeling some level of stress due to balancing their sport with school.” Many times, student athletes are expected to perform in school and achieve good grades and then perform well in their sport; helping their team to win. Coach Corey, a soccer and basketball coach, says “[Athletes] felt like they were falling behind in classes and because of all the time that being a varsity athlete, you have to spend so much time at practice, games, and travel and spending so much mental and physical energy,” when asked about how his athletes feel balancing their sport and school. 

Student athletes have a difficult time balancing all the different aspects of their busy lives. This can cause problems in their young lives such as anxiety, stress, and feeling the pressure to perform. All of these factors can have impacts on their daily lives both on and off the sports court/field. 

Student athletes are impacted by mental health in multiple ways. Every season that an athlete is playing a sport in high school they are under an exorbitant amount of pressure every second of every day to not only perform in their sport, but also in the classroom. It is known that oftentimes when student athletes are in season, their anxiety increases and classroom performance decreases, and this is a problem for student athletes all around the world. 

Different aspects of these student athletes are being affected in many ways, not just in the classroom. It carries over into their normal daily lives. It is possible that student athletes can become depressed because they are just constantly overwhelmed by what is happening around them. It can be very hard for a student athlete to live up to the expectations of their teachers, parents, coaches, and friends all at the same time.

Within Hall there are not very many support systems for student athletes. Many teachers do not understand the pressure that students are under when faced with having to perform both in the classroom and on the field. Maddie Maxwell said, “Yes, I feel pressured to always perform my best because in order to do your best you have to feel your best and I feel my best when my life is organized.” Many athletes are feeling this same way. 

Without athletes having the support to keep their lives organized it impacts their ability to perform at their best in both aspects. If you are struggling with managing this you should reach out to your friend. Many students feel that their peers understand what they are struggling with more than teachers, or coaches. Although your teachers and coaches are good support systems, sometimes it is better to reachout to something that can relate more to what you are dealing with.