Despite what some people may think, athletes aren't invincible–especially college athletes, who are young and still developing as human beings. When it comes to being impacted by mental health, these athletes are no exception. They don't automatically have a free pass because they're able to play their sports at one of the highest levels. In fact, for some athletes, this can make their mental health more difficult to handle than if they weren't involved in sports.

As much as people discuss the physical health of athletes, their mental health is just as, if not more, important. One person who it may be difficult for athletes to discuss their mental health with is their coach. Coaches can often seem like an extremely authoritative figure who may only care about the performance of their athletes during competition and unfortunately, there may be a few coaches like this in the world of college sports. However, many coaches truly care about their athletes and how they are doing both on and off the playing field. 

So what should you do if you want to discuss mental health with your coach? For starters, consider these tips:

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1. Be Honest

If you're an athlete who may be hesitant to discuss your mental health with your coach, one thing to keep in mind is to always be as open and honest as possible. More often than not, your coach will be understanding and want to do whatever they can to help you. Good coaches look at their athletes as human beings and know that playing a sport can lead to added stress and impact mental health. 

2. Choose the Right Time

Another approach to keep in mind is to discuss your mental health with your coach when you are in a good headspace and it is just the two of you. This will make it easier to be honest about your entire situation as opposed to doing so while worrying about other people listening in. 

Related: Reimagining Mental Health and Wellness in College Athletics: Experts and Athletes Weigh in

3. Keep Communication Open

It can also help to allow your coach to ask questions, because by providing your coach a better understanding about your situation, they can try to assist you in the best way possible. Opening up a two way street of communication with your coach is imperative. You can tell your coach what you think can be done to help you, and your coach can offer suggestions that you may not have initially thought of. With those strategies in mind, it is just as important to only discuss what you're comfortable talking about, which can be impacted by how much you trust your coach and the character your coach exhibits. 

4. Be Willing To Learn

Coaches have been around their respective sports and athletes for extensive periods of time so it's very likely that they have seen other athletes going through mental health struggles or even gone through them themselves. With that in mind, many coaches have been able to learn how to talk about mental health with their athletes or at least have compiled a list of resources for athletes to use if they need them. Don't be afraid to ask for advice and resources and to learn from your coach's experience.

Mental health has an impact on everyone, whether it is apparent or not. Talking about your mental health as an athlete can be intimidating, but is the first step to working back to being at your best. 

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* Originally published on April 19, 2023, by Owen Roche