Mental Wellness

Posted by: Zaleka Comments: 0 Post Date: October 1, 2022

According to Ohio University, in 2019, nearly 32% of today’s young people experience some form of anxiety disorder
According to Resources to Recover (RTOR), from 1991-2019, self-reported suicide attempts were nearly 80% among Black teens
According to RTOR, suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), female students were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide compared to male students
According to the CDC, more than 1 in 3 high school students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic
According to Ohio University, injuries, emotional stress, and physical strain can put student-athletes at higher risk of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts than their non-athletic peers
According to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14 and 75% by age 24
According to NAMI, the average delay between symptom onset of a mental health condition and treatment is 11 years

In 2021, the American College of Sports Medicine found that around 30% of female and 25% of male student-athletes reported having anxiety. It also found that about 35% of elite athletes suffer from disordered eating, burnout, depression, and/or anxiety. Our youth athletes are not exempt and are susceptible to mental health issues as well. Neuropsychologist, Dr. Pieroth stated, “Approximately 25 percent of youths experience a mental health disorder in a given year, and it is a leading cause of non-fatal disease burden and disability.” Given these statistics, raising awareness, and supporting mental health in our youth is critical. Equipping our youth with healthy habits, mindsets, and lifestyles will launch their individual campaigns for mental wellness. According to Dr. Gnacinski, benefits of increased mental wellness in athletes lead to decreased susceptibility to injury/illness and are top-performing athletes and teams.

At AISA, five pillars of mental wellness are broken down into weekly themes and activities that can be related to and implemented in daily life. These pillars are embraced to uplift and empower our athletes to strive for mental wellness beyond their time at our academy.

Five Pillars:

Practices to impact daily life that will increase mental and emotional intelligence to identify and cope with stressors.
Mental and emotional strength is as important as physical strength.
Strive for academic excellence with mental development.
Preventing burnout in athletes for healthy career longevity.
Creating community amongst a competitive sport.

Through prioritizing and engaging these pillars, AISA is assembling building blocks for youth to embrace their mental wellness journeys. Housing virtual exercises, implementing team-bonding activities, and teaching mindful language and strategies are our approaches to promote mental wellness. While we plant seeds, we’re nurturing their growth with life-long values and skills.
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