In the world as we know it today, athletes are seen as some of the most mentally and physically tough people. They play through injuries, face hard workouts, or manage a coach who doesn’t respect them; they do it all for the sport they’ve dedicated their lives to. However, this unrealistic standard for athletes to be superhumans —to never let anything affect them— has reached a dangerous point in terms of their mental health. If athletes speak up about something hurting them, they are seen as “crybabies” or “soft.” The stigma of receiving that label discourages so many athletes from receiving the help they need.
High school athletes and professional athletes alike are under constant pressure. It is extremely demanding to consistently deliver at your best, satisfy the demands of those watching you, and keep a positive public image. Even though many athletes suffer from depression, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion, they remain silent out of fear of criticism. Athletes who do show vulnerability are frequently criticized rather than encouraged. The idea that suppressing emotions is the same as mental toughness simply serves to increase the stereotypes associated with mental health in sports. Athletes are expected to be robots, never messing up, never breaking, and never displaying weakness, rather than people.
The fact that athletes are labeled “soft” or “crybaby” when expressing their mental health issues is one of the worst aspects of this stereotype. Name-calling like this gives the impression that expressing feelings or seeking help is a sign of weakness. As a result, many athletes keep their problems to themselves, which can negatively impact their performance, worsen their mental health, and occasionally even drive them to give up their favorite sport. The long-term consequences of ignoring mental health in sports can be devastating. Some may even walk away from their careers entirely because they feel they have no other choice.
The ability of an athlete to control their emotions should not be used to determine mental toughness. Being self-aware, resilient, and having the guts to ask for help when necessary are the traits of true strength that an athlete needs. The derogatory and out-of-date term “crybaby” has to go; rather, athletes should be encouraged to prioritize their mental health instead. Given that your mind powers your body, mental health awareness has to become more prevalent in athletics.