What athletes have had mental health issues?

Former and Current Sports Stars with Mental Illness

• Michael Phelps. The most decorated Olympian ever, Michael Phelps may have dominated the medal podium, but outside the pool, Phelps battled depression and suicidal thoughts.
• Naomi Osaka.
• Terry Bradshaw.
• Serena Williams.
• Aly Raisman.
• Lindsey Vonn.

Why do athletes have mental health issues?

Elite athletes are vulnerable to mental health disorders as a result of the various specific stressors they experience in their sporting environment. Key factors are the impact of injury, overtraining, social media scrutiny and ongoing competitive pressure to perform.

Do athletes suffer from depression?

Athletes and active individuals are not immune from mental illness. In fact, depression and anxiety disorders may occur in athletes at least as commonly as the general population.

What percent of athletes have depression?

The analysis of the surveys revealed that nearly 17 percent of current college athletes had scores consistent with depression— double that of retired college athletes (eight percent).

Are any athletes bipolar?

One former NFL player, Keith O’Neil, who has publicly shared his struggles with bipolar disorder, has been able to raise awareness and provide help to so many who struggle everyday with this mental illness.

Why do athletes become depressed?

Inability to transfer practice or training success to competition because of too-high expectations, which leads to decreased performance. c. Feeling worthless and like a failure if any mistakes are made, which can lead to anxiety and depression.

Why do athletes have anxiety?

As an amateur athlete, you are more likely than seasoned professionals to experience anxiety that interferes with your ability to perform in competition. 4 This makes sense due to your relative lack of experience both in competition and in managing feelings of being “pumped up.”

How many college athletes struggle with mental health?

With young adults, especially college athletes, the statistics are startling: 33% of all college students experience significant symptoms of depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions. Among that group, 30% seek help. But of college athletes with mental health conditions, only 10% do.

How many athletes are depressed?

Findings from these studies suggest that the prevalence rate of depression among college athletes ranges from as low as 15.6% to as high as 21% (^25,35). On the basis of these prevalence rates, as many as one in five athletes may be depressed.

What are the main causes of depression?

Causes – Clinical depression

• Stressful events. Most people take time to come to terms with stressful events, such as bereavement or a relationship breakdown.
• Personality.
• Family history.
• Giving birth.
• Loneliness.
• Alcohol and drugs.
• Illness.

How does depression affect college athletes?

Poor sport performance can increase a student-ath- lete’s depression and the pressure to per- form better. Depression may also increase a student-athlete’s risk of injury.

Are athletes less likely to be depressed?

Overall, while college student-athletes do struggle with depression and anxiety, the data indicate they are less likely than their non-athlete peers to report issues with either. Stress, interpersonal relationships and difficulty sleeping are strongly associated with depression and anxiety.

What percentage of college athletes are depressed?

Studies of athletes suggest that the factors that cause depression in college athletes may disappear after graduation. Yang et al found that in 257 collegiate student athletes, 21% reported depression,¹³ which was slightly higher than the 16.77% found in the current college athlete group in this study.

Why are so many teen athletes struggling with depression the Atlantic?

One reason for this trend is that high-school sports have begun to copy the training methods and intensity levels of college sports. This professionalization has led to overtraining and exhaustion, which is central to the mental-health problems of competitive high-school athletes.