Breaking the Silence: Championing Mental Health for Young Athletes

My name is Kai Hagiwara. I am a 17-year-old who currently lives in the United Kingdom, previously living in Japan, China and The United States having played soccer in every country, and currently playing in England at both youth and a semi-professional level. Throughout living in these countries and playing at a high level I realized how mental health is neglected in youth athletes, and wanted to create a platform to advocate for mental health in younger athletes.

Unveiling the Problem and A Call to Action:

In the world of youth athletics, mental health often takes a back seat. The relentless pursuit of perfection and the pressure to perform can leave young athletes grappling with their struggles in silence. I've personally faced these challenges, both on and off the field, and it's ignited a passion within me to advocate for the mental well-being of young athletes.

As someone who's battled their own mental demons, I want to send a clear message: Mental health isn't just a footnote in our athletic journeys; it's a pivotal factor that influences not only our performance but our overall quality of life.

My goal is straightforward yet ambitious: to reach as many people as possible and help them overcome the mental obstacles that can sometimes seem insurmountable.

Facts And Figures

1. The most striking finding was the dominance of stigma as a barrier to athletes seeking help for mental health problems. Over 40% of the barriers listed by participants related to stigma and the embarrassment an athlete would feel in seeking help.

Credit: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1471-244X-12-157

2. Ohio State offensive lineman Harry Miller says he is “medically retiring” from football, citing struggles he has faced with mental health. “I had seen the age-old adage of how our generation was softening by the second, but I can tell you my skin was tough,” he says. “It had to be. But it was not tougher than the sharp metal of my box cutter.

3. Athletes experience similar mental health concerns as non-athlete peers, such as anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, ADHD, eating disorders, and substance abuse. However, they also experience unique stressors that put them at risk for the development or exacerbation of mental health disorders. Student-athletes have to balance academics with rigorous training regimens while focusing on optimal performance and managing high expectations. Physical injuries, overtraining, concussions, sleep disorders, and social identity are some of the factors that also impact the mental health of student-athletes.

Our Solution:

To confront this issue head-on, we've harnessed the power of knowledge and support. HealthyMinds has devised a framework, and within it lies the ACE pillar—an approach designed to Advocate, Collaborate, and Educate.

HealthyMinds designed a “SUPPORT” framework and the ACE pillar.

The support framework shows the steps to overcome mental challenges in sports.

S- speak up, Speaking up about the problem and talking to others can take some burden off your chest.

U- Understanding that you’re not the only one and that there are people who care about you is crucial

P- Pairing up with other athletes going through similar challenges can help you feel more confident

P- Participating and being proactive is very important to overcome the obstacle

O- Overcome. With the previous steps, you will be ready to overcome what's holding you back.

R- Raise awareness. After you overcome your problem, raise awareness to help others.

T- teaching young athletes about the problem can help the next generation to be informed

ACE Framework is the building block of our commitment to helping teenagers with their mental health. They show our dedication to making a world where teenagers can feel good, both in their minds and bodies.

Advocate- means speaking up and telling people about mental health problems that teenagers, especially young athletes, face. We want to make sure these are not kept secret and that it’s okay to talk about them. By advocating for change, we hope to make it easier for teenagers to get help when they need it and talk openly about how they feel.

Collaborate- means working together with others. We know that fixing mental health problems in teenagers is something we can't do alone. So, we team up with schools, sports teams, experts, and groups who care about this issue too. Together, we can build a strong support network and share resources to make a bigger difference in teenagers' lives. Collaboration helps us help more people.

Educate- is about teaching and sharing knowledge. We want to make sure teenagers understand how to take care of their mental health. We create easy-to-understand materials, hosting workshops, and providing helpful information online. By educating teenagers about mental health, we give them the tools to recognize when they're feeling down and help them learn ways to feel better. We believe that when teenagers know more, they can be in control of their feelings and face life's challenges confidently.

HealthyMinds is committed to championing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a catalyst for positive change in our world. The journey we've embarked upon, advocating for the mental health of young athletes, aligns strongly with several SDGs, including:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: This is the most direct alignment, as your blog emphasizes the importance of mental health in the context of young athletes' overall well-being. It encourages awareness, support, and resources to improve mental health, aligning with the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.

SDG 4: Quality Education: Your blog promotes education and awareness about mental health issues among young athletes. It aligns with the goal of providing quality education and lifelong learning opportunities, particularly in the context of mental health education and awareness.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: Your blog emphasizes the need for collaboration, support networks, and partnerships within the sports community to address mental health challenges. This aligns

with the broader goal of strengthening global partnerships for sustainable development, as it encourages collective action to tackle a significant issue affecting youth athletes.

Credit:https://sdgs.un.org/goals

As we continue to advocate, collaborate, and educate through initiatives like the ACE framework, we aim to make a lasting impact on the lives of young athletes. We believe in a world where every teenager can flourish, both in mind and body, and we're committed to making that vision a reality.

Together, we can break the silence surrounding mental health in youth sports and empower the next generation to face life's challenges with confidence and resilience. Thank you for joining us on this journey, and let's keep pushing for a brighter, healthier future for all.

Muhammad Ali: "Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something deep inside them—a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill."