Mental Health in Retired Athletes

For many college athletes, their sport is not simply a competitive activity, but a lifestyle. For years, athletes dedicate a majority of their time to training and competition only to have to eventually deal with the reality that, for many, sport is only temporary. This is extremely evident in the retirement of college athletes as opposed to professional athletes because their careers are forced to come to an end. This brings about a major lifestyle change because a once competitive college athlete is then forced to abandon the very thing they see themselves as best at for a rather mundane life after sport. They will never feel the adrenaline of competing, the excitement of winning, or the disappointment of losing. This leads to a sense of lost identity, which opens the door to major mental health concerns, including depression. They also will likely never train their bodies to be in such impeccable shape, which leads several retired athletes to develop eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder.   

Retired or soon-to-be retired athletes must pay extra close attention to a shift in their mental health for this very reason. Studies show that athletes tend to seek out mental health support less than that of non-athletes due to fear of being considered “soft” in their sport. This skewed view of seeking mental health support is extremely dangerous for retired athletes because they typically take this stereotype with them when they leave sport as well. This not only prevents men or women, but also across all genders of athletes, with men seeking out help even less than female athletes. 

It is not only important to acknowledge this to shed light on the negative stigma towards mental health in athletes, but it is also crucial that current athletes and coaches show the importance of disbanding this stereotype. According to the NCAA, suicide rates among college athletes have doubled over the last 20 years, with 77% of the victims being male athletes around 20 years old. This coincides with the typical age at which athletes end their collegiate sport. 

Due to the mental and physical demands of their sport, along with the prevalence of social media, where harassment is very common towards athletes, it is not surprising to see how much pressure this group is under. This mental strain does not disappear with the ending of a sport, but often follows the athlete into their adult life, with many doubting their skills when they played and being left dissatisfied with their performance. For many athletes, this decline in mental health comes towards the end of their career, with a sudden onset of anxiety during and after competition. In fact, some athletes put off starting their careers to continue their sport, which causes them not to be prepared for a life not surrounded by their sport. 

As a senior college athlete, it is a scary reality to know that a life of sports is coming to a quick end, but it is important to know that one's self-worth is not determined by a sport that will inevitably end. If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health as an athlete or in general, there are resources available to help.

Courage First Athlete Helpline: 1-888-279-1026