Student-Athlete Mental Health Week highlights support available at UNCW
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — This week is recognized nationwide as Student-Athlete Mental Health Week, bringing attention to the challenges college athletes face while balancing academics, athletics and their personal lives. At the University of North Carolina Wilmington, efforts are underway to ensure student-athletes have access to mental health resources and support beyond their physical performance.
“We know that college sports can be incredibly demanding, and not just college sports, but just being a student in general. I often say it’s like they’re having two full-time jobs,” said Conally Owen, UNCW Athletics mental health provider.
Between practices, classes, competitions and the pressure to perform, student-athletes often face demanding schedules and high expectations.
“There’s lots of external pressure and internal pressure,” Owen said.
According to Owen, those pressures can affect student-athletes both on and off the field.
“Student-athletes will come in feeling stressed or overwhelmed when they are experiencing a change as far as an adjustment to a new situation. At the end of the day, they are people, and so they’re kind of dealing with those same people issues that we all deal with,” Owen said.
Owen explained that signs of mental health struggles can sometimes be subtle, including changes in motivation or body language. At UNCW, staff can help recognize those changes, while the Seahawk Mental Health and Performance Program provides student-athletes with one-on-one support.
“Even the best athletes, the most legendary athletes, have struggles, and it should be a normalized part of the conversation because ultimately mental health is just as important as physical health,” Owen said.
The conversation surrounding mental health in sports has continued to grow, with NCAA guidelines and high-profile athletes helping bring more attention to the issue.
“Names like Michael Phelps and Simone Biles that are actively out there talking about these things, talking about mental health, bringing it to the forefront of the conversation,” Owen said.
Owen also praised UNCW’s efforts to keep mental health part of the conversation as awareness continues to grow.
This season, UNCW Athletics announced new partnerships with Novant Health and EmergeOrtho, helping expand health care resources and support for Seahawk student-athletes. The partnerships are part of the university’s ongoing efforts to support student-athletes both during their college athletic careers and beyond. careers and beyond.
