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Keeping An Eye On The Mental Health Of Our Student Athletes Learn More ; Emotional Well-Being It's As Important As Their Physical Health Ncaa...

Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, PA) - 8/3/2015

Keeping An Eye On The Mental Health Of Our Student Athletes Learn More ; Emotional Well-Being It's As Important As Their Physical Health Ncaa Recommendations What You Can Do

Based on a recent CDC report about 1 out of every 5 children in the United States will experience some type of mental health disorder. Among teens, anxiety and depression are at epidemic proportions. Suicide is the second leading cause of death of people ages 15-24. After years of negligence these problems are finally getting the attention they deserve and progress is being made. In preparation for the start of school, my next three columns will feature problems, issues, ideas and solutions pertaining to the emotional health of our children. Today we will start with teen athletes.

During July and August, the majority of what I do is clear student athletes for sports participation. I sometimes think I truly am the Pia of PIAA.

In March, a document by a multidisciplinary team of physicians, coaches, teachers and trainers caused me to change slightly the way I approach these physicals. This team of professionals compiled data to show student athletes are more susceptible to mental health problems than other teens.

"Many student athletes report higher levels of negative emotional states than non-student athlete adolescents," they report, "and have been identified as having higher incidence rates for sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, mood disturbances, short tempers, decreased interest in training and competition, and inability to concentrate."

This increased incidence of psychological concerns has been attributed to many factors, including overtraining and burnout. Today's student athletes are much different from those who came before them. They typically have been playing their sport since elementary school. They often play on multiple teams. They spend 24 to 36 hours a week playing their sport, leaving much less time for schoolwork, relaxation and sleep.

Injuries are met with disappointment from coaches and parents, and time for recovery is never adequate. There is no such thing as an "off-season" any more. And college recruiters seem to begin the frenzy at a younger age every year.

As if the above pressures were not enough, take a look at the person within the athlete. Many student athletes identify themselves with their sport. They are, first and foremost, a soccer player, for instance, and any obstacle in the road to this identity is met with fierce resistance. This means that injury, no matter how slight, is catastrophic. Outside demands, such as family, school and community, become nuisances.

This type of singular focus, combined with alienation from solid support groups, is a recipe for mental health disaster.

We need to move from just considering an athlete's physical health to concentrating on their mental health as an equal partner in the goal of a happy, healthy, well-performing human.

This consensus statement, adopted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, is designed to teach those who have the most contact with student athletes to recognize the warning signs of mental health disorders in young adults. It lists triggering events and behaviors to monitor, as well as symptoms of specific disorders such as depression and anxiety. And it addresses specific problems from a psychological standpoint, including concussion, eating disorders, substance abuse and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

All those in frequent contact with student athletes should read this document and educate themselves on intervention methods. The consortium calls on schools to ensure that athletic trainers, coaches and school counselors have a close relationship and work as a team to help their students.

It also is suggested that physicians doing pre-participation physicals screen for mental health issues, including depression, anxiety and eating disorders. This screening should include questions about sleep, diet, energy level, mood and substance use. Mental health, or at least an effort to achieve it, should be necessary before participation is fully cleared.

If you are involved with student athletes, you should read this document. It provides a list of open-ended questions that can get a conversation going with a student who has behaviors that are of concern. Never assume someone else is helping and that it is not your place. It is never expected that you know how to fix their problems, but you need to help them take the steps toward getting help.

Every school should have a plan to recognize and refer students who have mental health concerns. This consensus statement is a very good place to start in forming each school's plan. Early recognition of a problem can have a very big impact on its resolution.

To read the full Journal of Athletic Training report, visit natajournals.org, search "Timothy L. Neal" and click "full text" on the recommendations for secondary school athletes.

Dr. Pia Fenimore, of Lancaster Pediatric Associates, answers questions about children's health. To pose your own question, visit lancasteronline.com/asktheexpert.