When the Taut Band Between Athletics and Mental Health Well-Being Snaps

The "pop" was unmistakable.

As a dad, I didn't want to believe it. As someone whose career revolves around high school and college athletes, there was no denying the realities of a torn ACL.

I rushed on the field and did my best to comfort my son without simultaneously breaking down in tears. I come from the generation of "rub some dirt on it / walk it off / no crying," but all I wanted to do is take the pain away as we loaded him onto the golf cart and got him comfortable as possible en route to the Urgent Care.

The initial anguished cries of pain subsided and were replaced by sobbing apologies as the reality of the situation set in.

HE was sorry he let ME down.

This was as curious as it was heartbreaking. He was upset because he was having a tremendous season in his junior year and several universities had expressed interest. He had the ability to play lacrosse in college, but it wasn't necessarily his dream; he thought it was mine, and therefore (in his mind) he let me down.

As parents and coaches, we often don't think enough about what motivates athletes- and most important- what may cause mental stress. Worrying about scholarships, the ability to get into a school that might be a stretch otherwise, or in the world of NIL, getting / losing brand deals- all of this compounds the layers of stress which come with being a competitive athlete.

In the Urgent Care, as the painkillers took effect on the physical pain, the mental pain and the reality of the situation set in.

The season was over.

Summer travel season was over.

College showcases were over.

With the best possible outcomes and rehab, he could potentially be on the field for the Thanksgiving tournaments. However, it also meant no golfing, skimboarding, wakeboarding, and all the sundry activities teens do in Florida over summer break. And I watched the darkness creep in over him.

There was nothing I could say which would encourage him or provide a level of solace. It was not the time for, "plenty of athletes tear their ACLs and go on...I did etc....", so we opted for Plan B.

Step 1. Take empty urine sample cup.

Step 2. Fill part way with apple juice.

Step 3. Ask nurse if they need a sample.

Step 4. "No? Mind if I finish it then?"

Step 5. Drink in front of them, watch nurse gag, son laugh uncontrollably.

Step 6. Lather, rinse, repeat, with every dr / nurse / tech on call.

Laughter may be the best medicine, but it doesn't repair a torn ACL. What it does do is reinforce that things will be alright no matter what, and that I was proud of him and would be supportive through the healing process.

There will be plenty of ups and downs with the recovery and rehab process. With any injured athlete, there will be countless opportunities for the darkness to creep in and wreak havoc on their mental health well-being. A recent University of Michigan study showed that over 33% of student athletes struggle with their mental health well-being on a daily level. After injuries, that number jumps to over 70%, with 10% of those athletes suffering suicidal ideation.

Monitoring and treating the injury to the athlete's mental health is as important- if not more so- that treating the physical injury itself. Unfortunately, it may not readily reveal itself the way a physical injury does. The process that comes with treating the injury:

assessment, confirmation, treatment, recovery, rehabilitation, training

is the same process when approaching the mental health well-being side of the equation. We need to be able to understand the athlete's state of mind and give them time to experience all of the emotions- the anger, disappointment, self-pity, self-doubt, and help them process all of it in a healthy manner. From there, we need to help them work through it with a balanced approach of encouragement, consistency, and above all else, EMPATHY.

The stronger the athlete's mental health mindset, the better the overall physical recovery.

It is not often that I see the confluence of my personal life and my business life, but one of the core tenets of the NILENT (NIL Enterprise Solutions) educational platform is the focus on athlete's mental health well-being. With mental health partners like teledoc , Koomba , Talkspace , Blue Fever , and others providing solutions and resources for universities and their athletes, it is our mission to ensure that athletes never feel like they have nowhere to go or that nobody understands their unique journey. Above all else, it's ensuring that no athlete becomes a statistic.

There will be setbacks, disappointments, and moments of doubt along the way. But there is no such thing as a "total recovery" if the mental health well-being component is neglected.

#mentalhealthwellbeing #LinkedInsports #NIL #education #athletes