Prioritizing the Mental Health of High School Athletes
Overview
High school student-athletes face intense pressure from coaches, parents, teammates, and themselves to perform at a high level. Trying to juggle athletic preparation, academic success, and a social life (including social media) can cause athletes to experience anxiety, depression, and burnout. In this Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR) Seminar, Dr. Sara Hickmann will focus on common pressures and challenges high school student-athletes face, how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in this population, and how to teach self-care and coping strategies. In addition, strategies on how to best provide support and identify resources will be included. This presentation will be geared towards parents, coaches, athletic trainers, athletic administrators, mental performance coaches, sport psychologists, and other mental health professionals.
Learning objectives
- Recognize the ways the US education system and competitive sport culture contribute to increased stress and pressure for high school student-athletes
- Describe the current psychological and emotional challenges that high school student-athletes face
- Discuss the impact of stigma and other individual risk factors that contribute to increased mental health concerns or serve as barriers to care
- Identify the prevalence rates of mental health conditions commonly seen in high school student-athletes, including signs and symptoms of these conditions
- Identify appropriate resources to prioritize the mental health of high school athletes, including self-care and coping strategies
Professional credit
- This activity offers the following types of credit: APA
- 1.0 CEs are available.
- Additional details can be found in the activity document for this resource.