Weight of the Jersey: Why Mental Health is Vital in High School Sports

From a distance, the average high school athlete appears to be the vision of wellness: daily conditioning, competitive and full of discipline. But beneath the surface, a different story is unfolding. In the United States as a society, we have spent decades focused on strength training, diet and nutrition in sports. It is only recently that we are discovering the key to an athlete’s wellbeing and performance also includes a focus on their mental health as well.

In today’s incredibly competitive environment, the pressure on student-athletes has reached a fever pitch. In addition to the physical grind and the maintenance of an academic/athletic balance, the mental toll is becoming increasingly difficult to carry.

A recent study published in the National Library of Medicine in early 2024 entitled, “Prevalence of Stress Amongst High School Athletes,” cites a staggering 91 percent of high school student-athletes report experiencing some level of stress associated with balancing sports and academics. Fifty-eight percent report experiencing moderate to severe stress. Other studies highlight the prevalence of anxiety, depression, burnout and other stress-related conditions among high school athletes. Only 10 percent of student-athletes seek professional mental health care.

Leah Jantzen, a nationally renowned Mental Performance Coach, Speaker and Youth, Inc. Ambassador says, “The biggest challenges I see are pressure, comparison and exhaustion, mental more than physical. Add to that, packed schedules with challenging academics, lack of sleep and little downtime to reset, and you get kids who look strong on the outside but are struggling internally.”

The life of high school athletes is a high-stake balancing act. On one side, they face the unrelenting demands of an athletic schedule that is filled with practices, travel and competitions while at the same time carrying a rigorous academic load that often includes AP courses, standardized testing and college applications.

“Student-athletes are balancing academics, practices, competitions, social expectations and high personal standards,” says VJ Sarullo, athletic director of Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut and vice-president of the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference. “While sports can be a powerful outlet and source of connection, they can also magnify stress if well-being is not prioritized.”

Jantzen also cites the pressures of social media: “Social media has put athletes on a 24/7 stage where highlights and failures live forever. Today’s high school athletes feel like they are constantly being evaluated by coaches, parents, teammates, colleges and even strangers online. Every mistake feels permanent. Every success feels like it must be repeated or topped. Many athletes tie their entire identity to sport, so when playing time changes, they get injured or struggle, it doesn’t just hurt their confidence, it makes them question their sense of self.”

As the intensity of youth sports increases, the need for solid mental health programming for high school students becomes critical. Both Jantzen and Sarullo noted an uptick in anxiety and stress among athletes over the last decade, but that’s not necessarily a negative. Students seem to be more open to discuss the issues.

“As mental health awareness has increased, student-athletes are more comfortable sharing their experiences,” remarks Sarullo, “which helps ensure we provide the support that is necessary to assist. The hope is, as we move forward, that we are able to handle these situations more proactively rather than reactively.”

Schools like Staples High School and Ward Melville High School in East Setauket, New York recognize the importance of mental health programming in its ability to transform sports from a potential stressor to a resilient foundation for adulthood. Mental health programming isn’t just about crisis intervention; it’s about building the necessary skills to effectively handle challenges both on and off the field and court.

“We take a collaborative and proactive approach to support student-athlete mental health,” says Sarullo. “The athletic department and its staff work closely with school counselors, teachers and administrators to ensure that student-athletes know support is available and accessible.”

As a former teacher and baseball coach, Sarullo understands the importance of open communication between staff and students and how to create a non-judgmental environment, “Within the athletic department, we have prioritized mental health awareness at coaches’ meetings, in communications and have offered professional development to coaches on the topic to further raise awareness.”

Some high schools are lucky to have a dedicated health and performance coach on staff who is embedded in the athletic environment. Among her many roles, this is one of Leah Jantzen’s favorites, “When athletes see the same person regularly, at practices, in team meetings and around the building, support becomes approachable and consistent, not something reserved for emergencies.” Jantzen helps bridge the gap between athletes, coaches, counselors and families, creating alignment around expectations, pressure and healthy development.

There are benefits to mental health programming that go well beyond the field. Teaching students to remain calm and focused during challenging and stressful moments cannot only improve athletic performance, but it can also lay the groundwork for academic and workplace challenges, as well. Mental health programs have helped students sleep better, talk more openly about challenges, build resilience, assist their peers who are under duress and advocate for themselves.

Coaches and athletic staff play a crucial role in the physical and mental development of student-athletes. Prioritizing mental health programming is not just a supportive measure but rather a true necessity for student success and societal well-being. Schools can fundamentally change the trajectory of their students’ lives, an opportunity that should not be taken too lightly.

Dr. Jennifer Wider is women’s health expert, author of four books and radio host. She has appeared on The Today Show, CBS News, CNN and ABC News Nightline. She is a graduate of Princeton University and received her medical degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Wider was a collegiate athlete and in her spare time, she coaches high school tennis and squash teams in Connecticut.